The Seafarers’ Friend, Samuel Plimsoll Commemorated in Folkestone 150 Years After Waterline Legislation Was Passed

The Civic Dignitaries, speakers and Standard Bearers at Plimsoll’s grave Photo: Ray Duff

Words and Pictures by Ray Duff – A large congregation recently joined civic dignitaries from Folkestone and beyond to mark the annual commemoration of the life and work of the sailors’ friend, Samuel Plimsoll, at St Martin’s Church in Cheriton, enjoying warm, sunny weather for the occasion.

The event was well-attended by local leadership, including the Mayor of Folkestone, Cllr Jackie Meade, alongside the Mayor of Hythe, Cllr Pauline Curren, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Margate, Cllrs Leo Britcher and Tamara Campbell. The Chair of Folkestone and Hythe District Council, Cllr Paul Thomas, also attended, with the Rector of St Martin’s Church, Zoe Crofts, welcoming the guests and opening the service with prayers.

Michael Foad and the St Martin’s choir lead ‘A Cheer for Samuel Plimsoll’ Photo: Ray Duff

This year’s anniversary talk was given once again by Samuel Plimsoll’s biographer, Nicolette Jones, who highlighted that this year actually marks a triple 150th anniversary for the sailors’ friend, with three major milestones tracing back to 1876.

The first milestone marks the invention of the famous “Plimsolls” deck or sand shoes, designed with rubber soles to give sailors better grip on wet, open decks and improve comfort. The second celebrates the writing and first performances of the music hall song “A Cheer for Samuel Plimsoll” by Fred Albert, an anthem that resonated deeply with British audiences who largely backed Plimsoll’s efforts.

The memorial wreaths laid Photo: Ray Duff

The most significant milestone, however, is the 150th anniversary of the passage of the landmark safety legislation. Serving as the Liberal MP for Derby at the time, Plimsoll successfully pushed the bill through despite his party being in opposition and facing fierce resistance from shipowners and their political spokespersons. The legislation fundamentally improved safety at sea for crews and passengers by requiring a permanent load line to be painted on hulls, ensuring vessels could no longer leave harbour overloaded, which caused instability and sinking.

Prior to this law, despite voluntary safety measures by a few responsible owners, far too many vessels regularly sailed to their doom due to overloading, earning them Plimsoll’s notorious nickname of “coffin ships.” Even after the legislation passed, enforcement proved difficult. It took until around 1890 for the Board of Trade to crack down on shipowners, many of whom had bypassed the law by painting the line absurdly high up on their vessels—including one infamous instance where it was painted on the ship’s funnel. It also took several decades for other countries to adopt similar maritime safety standards.

 Prayers are read by Rector Zoe Crofts beside the Plimsoll grave Photo: Ray Duff

Samuel Plimsoll himself retired from Parliament in 1880 and eventually moved to Augusta Gardens in Folkestone in 1892. From there, he continued to campaign for maritime safety until his death in 1898 and his subsequent interment in St Martin’s Churchyard.

The commemorative event concluded with a splendid rendition of the historic anthem “A Cheer for Samuel Plimsoll”, led by Michael Foad and the St Martin’s Choir, before attendees gathered for refreshments provided by the Friends of the church.