Cromer is dominated
by its parish church with its 160 feet high tower, thought to be the
tallest in Norfolk.
By the early 19th century it was becoming known as a holiday resort
and is mentioned in Jane Austen’s novel, ‘Emma’.
Today the town is renowned for its Cromer
crabs and fishing boats still work off the beach bringing in fresh
catches daily. A crab sandwich or salad can be sampled in many of
the local restaurants, pubs and hotels.
One of Cromer’s
best known features is its pier, which was built in 1900, replacing
a number of jetties. During the summer months the Pavilion Theatre
hosts the popular ‘Seaside Special’; this is the only
remaining traditional end-of-the-pier show in the country.
The pier is also home to the Cromer
lifeboat which is situated at the end of the pier. The lifeboat
museum can be found inside the old lifeboat house at the foot of
the gangway, and a further museum which displays local history,
geology and archaeology is housed in a row of fishermen’s
cottages adjacent to Cromer
Church.
Henry Blogg is considered to be Cromer’s
greatest hero and was coxswain of the lifeboat from 1909 -
1947. He won the Gold Medal of the R.N.L.I. three times and four
Silver medals, the B.E.M. and the George Cross for saving lives
at sea. It is said that he knew the seas around Cromer
better than anyone.
The conspicuous white painted lighthouse towers high above the
cliffs, sending its beams out to sea. Built in 1833, it was once
a manned lighthouse but is now radio-controlled and unmanned.
During August Cromer
is at its busiest with Carnival Week taking place. The carnival
has grown over the years into one of the largest in the U.K., attracting
such displays as the Red Arrows flying team.
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