Name Light Vessel 16 Inner Dowsing

Built for Trinity House, it is thought that LV 16 was constructed by William Pitcher of Northfleet and laid on the SPURN station on the River Humber until that station was taken over by the Humber Conservancy Board. LV 16 served on various stations including Calshot Spit, Southampton, and Inner Dowsing, Lincolnshire.

Sold out of service in 1945, she was then sold to Benfleet Yacht Club and used as a floating clubhouse.  In 1984 when she was brought to the River Medway and moored at the Medway Bridge Marina, Rochester and opened as a private members' club. In 1989 she was granted an open licence and opened as a public bar, then the restaurant Inner Dowsing. A number of original wooden hull beams, indicating great strength of light vessel fittings, including the tower, were removed.

After being damaged by fire in 2007, she was sold to a new owner and work was carried out to renovate and adapt LV 16 for use as a B&B, opening in 2012. 

Under current ownership since 2023, she has been fully refurbished and now contains two double cabins for holiday rental as well as private accommodation for the owners.