Cromer Lifeboat Station


Cromer Lifeboat Station is located in Cromer, a seaside town located approximately north of Norwich, on the north-east coast of the English county of Norfolk.
A lifeboat was first placed at Cromer in 1804 by a local committee, being taken over by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association in 1823. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in December 1857.
The station comprises two station buildings. A large boathouse, completed in 1999, sits at the end of Cromer Pier, and houses the All-weather lifeboat 16-07 Lester, on station since 2007. A smaller boathouse, built in 1902, and located at the foot of Brunswick Terrace, is home to the Inshore lifeboat Mr Eric Sharpe , on station since 2022.

History

There has been a lifeboat service operated from Cromer for two centuries – predating the establishment of the RNLI. The volunteer crews at Cromer have gained an exemplary record of gallantry. 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 45 Bronze Awards of the [Royal National Lifeboat Institution|RNLI Medals for gallantry] have been awarded at Cromer, helping make Cromer lifeboat station one of the most well known of the lifeboat stations operated by the RNLI. Some of the most notable rescues and services have been carried out by now famous coxswains, such as Henry George Blogg and Henry "Shrimp" Thomas Davies BEM, and their crews.
In the early days of the station, the lifeboats were kept outdoors on the east jetty. From 1804, a privately operated service was funded by subscription, which was administered by a local committee, led by Lord Suffield, the third baron of Gunton Hall. Other dignitaries on the committee included George Wyndham of Cromer Hall, Thomas Mickleburgh, a local merchant, Joseph Gurney, a Cromer draper, and grocer Benjamin Rust.
In 1823, management of the station was taken over by the Norfolk Shipwreck Association, who became responsible for lifeboat stations between and Gt. Yarmouth. This continued until 1857, until the NSA fell into financial troubles, with the lifeboats in a declining state of repair. At a meeting of the NSA on 21 November 1857, it was decided that the whole operation of the NSA be transferred to the management of the RNLI. This was formally agreed at a meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 3 December 1857.
The NSA had built a lifeboat house at Cromer, which once stood some 100 yards from the high-water mark, close to where the Inshore lifeboat station now stands. The RNLI altered and renovated this station at a cost of £46-2s-7d, but by the mid-1860s, this station had outlived its usefulness and a new boathouse was planned.
The new site was on the east gangway, and work started on the new station in 1867. The new boathouse project also included building an extension to the sea walls, and a slipway across the top of the beach. The work cost £476-4s-0d and was carried out by a local builder by the name of E. Simmons. The cost of the station was met by Benjamin Bond Cabbell, who also provided a new lifeboat for the station, costing £306. The lifeboat, a 34-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing lifeboat, one with sails and oars, was duly named Benjamin Bond Cabbell.
A new 38-foot Liverpool-class P&S lifeboat was placed on station in 1902. The cost of the new lifeboat and equipment was defrayed from the bequest of Miss Emily Heartwell of Holloway, London. At a ceremony on 9 September 1902, the new boathouse was inaugurated, and after a short service of dedication by Rev. J. F. Sheldon, the lifeboat was named Louisa Heartwell.
At least three-feet longer than any previous Cromer lifeboat, a new boathouse was required, and was constructed at the end of the esplanade, at the foot of Brunswick Terrace, at a cost of £525.
When the new 46-foot 6in motor-powered lifeboat H. F. Bailey arrived on station in 1923, the 1902 boathouse would now not be large enough. Another new boathouse was again required. This time, a much larger boathouse, with a roller slipway, was constructed at the end of Cromer Pier, at a cost of £32,000. The pulling and sailing lifeboat Louisa Heartwell was retained as a No. 2 lifeboat.
A remarkable period of service would occur at Cromer between 1927 and 1941. No fewer than 37 RNLI Medals for gallantry were awarded, along with multiple awards from various governments and The Queen of The Netherlands.
  • 21–22 November 1927, Dutch tanker Georgia, 1 x Gold, 12 x Bronze
  • 17 February 1931, Fishing boat Welcome Home, 1 x Bronze
  • 14–16 October 1932, Monte Nevoso of Genoa, 1 x Silver
  • 13 December 1933, Barge Sepoy, 1 x Silver
  • 9–10 October 1939, S.S. Mount Ida, 1 x Silver, 3 x Bronze
  • 6–7 August 1941, 6 vessels in convoy, 1 x Gold, 1 x Silver, 3 x Bronze
  • 26–27 October 1941, Steamship English Trader, 1 x Silver, 11 x Bronze
Cromer continued to operate two All-weather lifeboats until 1967, when the No. 2 boat was withdrawn. The lifeboat on station at the time, the 37-foot Oakley Mk I lifeboat 37-13 William Henry and Mary King, was transferred first to, and later to. The withdrawal of the second All-weather lifeboat saw the introduction of a new Inshore lifeboat,. The 1902 boathouse is still the home of the Inshore boat.
Towards the end of the 1990s, it was decided that the 1923 pier boathouse had reached the end of its serviceable lifetime, especially in the face of the elements at the end of the pier.
The structure was removed in two halves, and transported by sea along the coast to Southwold, where it was reassembled. It is now home to the Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum, its main exhibit being the 44-foot Norfolk and Suffolk-class former lifeboat RNLB Alfred Corry .
The Cromer Pier boathouse was replaced between 1997 and 1999, costing approximately £3 million, funded by bequests and private donations.
During this period, the Ruby and Arthur Reed II was temporarily placed in the relief fleet, and a carriage launched lifeboat, 12-30 Her Majesty The Queen, was stationed on the shore next to the 1902 boathouse.
In 2007, the lifeboat was withdrawn, and a new All-weather lifeboat assigned to the station. Modifications to the slipway were required, and a second carriage-launched lifeboat, 12-004 Royal Shipwright, was placed at Cromer for one year.
The new lifeboat arrived on station in 2008. At a ceremony on 8 September, H.R.H The Duke of Kent named the lifeboat 16-07 Lester.

Station honours

The following are awards made at Cromer.
In memory of those lost whilst serving Cromer lifeboat.
  • Died on 21 September 1918, after becoming paralysed whilst assisting the launch of the lifeboat H. F. Bailey, on service to the Swedish vessel Fernebo on 9 January 1917.
  • Collapsed and died of heart failure shortly after being recovered to the lifeboat RNLB [H F Bailey III |H. F. Bailey ], after five lifeboat crew, including Henry Blogg, were washed overboard, whilst on service to the steamship English Trader on 26–27 October 1941.

    Cromer lifeboats

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats (Cromer / Cromer No.1)

Motor lifeboats (Cromer / Cromer No.1)

Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats (Cromer No.2)

When the station received its first motor lifeboat, a No.2 station was established located in the old boathouse. The station was closed in 1967, replaced with a Inshore lifeboat.
ONNameBuiltClassComments
495Louisa Heartwell190238-foot Liverpool Previously Cromer No. 1. Sold in 1931, now undergoing restoration at Chatham Historic Dockyard.
514Alexandra19031931–1934Previously at. Sold in 1934 and now a holiday home in Siel, Scotland, June 2024.

Motor lifeboats (Cromer No.2)

Inshore lifeboats

Launch and recovery tractors