Coordinates: 52°55′52″N 1°18′07″E / 52.931°N 1.302°E
| Cromer | |
 Cromer Parish Church |
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  Cromer
Cromer shown within Norfolk |
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| Area | 4.66 km2 (1.80 sq mi) |
|---|---|
| Population | 7,749 (2001 census) |
| - Density | 1,663 /km2 (4,310 /sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | |
| District | North Norfolk |
| Shire county | Norfolk |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CROMER |
| Postcode district | NR27 |
| Dialling code | 01263 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | North Norfolk |
| List of places: UK • England • Norfolk | |
Cromer is a coastal town and civil parish in north Norfolk, England [1]. The local government authority is North Norfolk District Council, whose headquarters is in Holt Road in the town. The town is situated 23 miles (37 km) north of the county town, Norwich, and is 4 miles (6.5 km) east of Sheringham. The civil parish has an area of 4.66 km² and in the 2001 census had a population of 7,749 people in 3,671 households.[2] The motto Gem of the Norfolk Coast is highlighted on the town's roadsigns.[3]
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Cromer is not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but two other settlements, Shipden-juxta-mere and Shipden-juxta-Felbrigg, are mentioned. It is reasonable to assume that the present site of Cromer, around the parish church of Saints Peter and Paul, is what was then Shipden-juxta-Felbrigg.[4] The other Shipden is now about a quarter of a mile to the north east of the end of Cromer Pier, under the sea. Its site is marked by Church Rock, now no longer visible, even at a low spring tide. In 1888 a vessel struck the rock, and the rock was then blown up for safety.
Cromer became a resort in the early-19th century, with some of the rich Norwich banking families making it their summer home. Visitors included the future King Edward VII, who played golf here. The resort's facilities included the late-Victorian Cromer Pier, which is home to the Pavilion Theatre. In 1883 the London journalist Clement Scott went to Cromer and began to write about the area. He named the stretch of coastline, particularly the Overstrand and Sidestrand area, "Poppyland",[5] and the combination of the railway and his writing in the national press brought many visitors. The name "Poppyland" referred to the numerous poppies which grew (and still do) at the roadside and in meadows.
Since the 14th century the parish church has been in the centre of the town. However, after falling into disrepair it was rebuilt in the late 19th century by architect, Arthur Blomfield. At 160 ft 4 inches the church tower is the highest in the county. Also, of note are the vast stained glass windows which commemorate various members of the lifeboat crew and other features of the resort.[6][7]
Originally built in 1820 as a marine residence for Lord Suffield. In 1830 the building was converted into a hotel by Pierre le Francois. Norfolk born architect George Skipper extensively remodelled the building between 1895–96.[8] Today (2010), the hotel which occupies an elevated location overlooking the town's pier still provides accommodation to visitors.[9]
Located to the south of the town in Hall Lane. 52°55′37″N 1°17′37″E / 52.927°N 1.2937°E The original hall was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in the 1820s in a Gothic Revival style by Norfolk architect, William John Donthorne. Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer was born at the hall in 1841. Today (2010), the building is the home of the Cabbell Manners family. In 1901, author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a guest of the family. After hearing the legend of the Black Shuck, he is thought to have been inspired to write the classic novel The Hounds of the Baskervilles [10]
Tourism is an important part of the local economy with the town a popular resort and a touring base for the surrounding area. Accommodation of all types is available in around Cromer. The town centre offers a wide range of privately owned shops and well known high street retailers. Adjacent to the railway station is a large supermarket and other retail outlets. Amenities in the town include a good selection of restaurants, several public houses, theatre and a cinema.[11] Outside of the historic town centre Pevsner described the late Victorian architecture as "Principal developments belong to the 1890s. Stylistic elements derived from the Chateaux of the Loire Valley" [8]
Visitor attractions in the town include the Cromer Museum. The building is adjacent to the parish church and partially housed in a late 19th century fisherman's cottage. Opened in 1978, the museum includes a Geology Gallery, bones from the West Runton elephant, picture gallery and a collection of historic photographs and illustrations which chart the history of the town.[12] Close to the town's pier the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum RNLI is housed inside the early 21st century Rocket House . The museum with the lifeboat Cromer Lifeboat H F Bailey III ON 777 as its centrepiece illustrates the history of the town's lifeboats and Henry Blogg's most famous rescues.[13] The Cromer Prospect public art scheme was installed in 2005/06 and was part of a wider £6.1 million refurbishment. Much of the work is centred on the granite compass on the pier's forecourt. Celebrating 200 years of Cromer lifeboats the installations 24 stones point in the direction of rescue missions.[14] After two years of development the South American themed Amazona zoo park opened to the public in 2006. The park covers 10 acres of former brick kilns and derelict woodland on the outskirts of the town. 52°55′03″N 1°17′53″E / 52.9176°N 1.298°E A wide range of animals including jaguar and puma can be viewed.[15] For one week in August the town celebrates its Carnival Week. The events 40th anniversary was held in 2009. Attractions included the carnival queen competition, parade of floats and a fancy dress competition. The highlight of the week was an over- the- sea aerial display by the Red Arrows.[16] The North Norfolk Information Centre was opened in the town on 1 August 2008 by local writer Keith Skipper. The eco-friendly building uses underground heat source pumps and solar energy to provide 60% of its energy needs.[17][18]
Football
Cabbell Park is the home of Cromer Town F.C. The long established club play in the Premier Division of the Anglian Combination.[19]
Cricket
Cromer Cricket Club are one of the oldest clubs in the county and are based at the Norton Warnes Cricket Ground. The club currently play in the Norfolk Alliance Premier Division.[20]
Lawn tennis and Squash
The town's tennnis and squash courts are located at Norwich Road and are open to the public.[21]
Golf
Situated on the cliffs between the town and Overstrand. The Royal Norfolk Golf Club was founded in 1888 and given royal status by the Prince of Wales in the same year.[22]
Walking
Two long distance footpaths pass through the town ; Norfolk Coastal Path and the Weavers' Way.
Cycling
The 92 miles (148 km) Norfolk Coast Cycleway runs parallel to the coast and passes through a mixture of quiet roads and country lanes to link the town with Kings Lynn to the west and Great Yarmouth in the east.[23]
Sea angling
Mixed catches including cod can be made from the town's beaches. The pier provides the opportunity to capture specimen sized bass.[24]
Railway stations in Cromer: The railway came to Cromer in 1877. Ten years later a second station was opened bringing visitors from the East Midlands. The two stations were Cromer High (owned by the Great Eastern Railway) and the more central Cromer Beach (owned by the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway), of which the latter still remains (now known simply as Cromer). Direct services were operated from London, Manchester, Leicester, Birmingham, Leeds, Peterborough and Sheffield, but today a service to Norwich is all that remains. The station is on the Bittern Line connecting it to Sheringham, North Walsham, Wroxham and Norwich, from where the rest of the national rail network can be accessed.
Bus services are provided by First Eastern Counties, Sanders Coaches [25] and Norfolk Green which connect the town to destinations including Norwich and Holt. National Express operate a daily coach service to London.
The A140 links to Norwich, the A148 (direct) & A149 (coast road) to King's Lynn, and the A149 to the Norfolk Broads and Great Yarmouth. The B1159 is a coastal road out towards Mundesley. The nearest airport is Norwich International Airport and there is a private airfield 3 miles (5 km) south east of the town at Northrepps Aerodrome.
The town is famous for the Cromer crab, which forms the major source of income for the local fishermen. The town had grown up as a fishing station over the centuries and became a year-round fishery, with crabs and lobsters in the summer, drifting for longshore herring in the autumn and long-lining, primarily for cod, in the winter, when weather permitted. The pattern of fishing has changed over the last thirty years, and it is now almost completely focused on crabs and lobsters. At the end of the 19th century, the beaches to the east and west of the pier were crowded with fishing boats. Now, about ten boats ply their trade from the foot of the gangway on the east beach, with shops in the town selling fresh crab, whenever the boats go to sea.
The fishermen also crewed Cromer's two lifeboats. Most famous of the lifeboatmen was Henry Blogg, who received the RNLI gold medal for heroism three times, and the silver medal four times. Cromer lifeboat station was founded in 1804, the first in Norfolk. Rowing lifeboats were stationed there through the 19th century.
In the 1920s a lifeboat station was built at the end of the pier, enabling a motor lifeboat to be launched beyond the breakers. A number of notable rescues carried out between 1917 and 1941 made the lifeboat and the town well-known throughout the United Kingdom and further afield. The area covered by the station is large, as there a long run of coastline with no harbour – Great Yarmouth is 40 miles (65 km) by sea to the south east and the restricted harbour of Wells next the Sea 25 miles (40 km) to the west. Today the offshore lifeboat on the pier performs about a dozen rescues a year, with about the same number for the inshore lifeboat stationed on the beach.
The Duke of Kent officially named the town's new lifeboat the Lester in a ceremony on 8 September 2008.[26]
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"You should have gone to Cromer, my dear, if you went anywhere. Perry was a week at Cromer once, and he holds it to be the best of all the seabathing places. A fine open sea, he says, and very pure air. And, by what I understand, you might have had lodgings there quite away from the sea quarter of a mile off, very comfortable. You should have consulted Perry." [27]
Cromer is twinned with the following towns;
 Cromer Pier as seen from the Henry Blogg Museum |
 Beaches and cliffs east of Cromer in the summer |
 Cromer Lighthouse |
 View over Cromer from the lighthouse hills |
 Cromer Museum |
 Henry Blogg's bronze bust on the cliff top in North Lodge Park, Cromer |
 Ticket for the Pavilion Theatre on Cromer Pier |
 Pavilion Theatre on the end of Cromer Pier |
 Hotel de Paris viewed from pier |
 Cromer Pier |
 North Norfolk information centre (opened 2008) |
 17th century gravestone in the churchyard at Cromer |
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Cromer is a town on the North Norfolk coast famous for its crabs, fishermen and lifeboats.
The drive from Norwich on the A140 takes about half an hour.
The Train is a fantastic way to get here from Norwich on a one line track through the Broads.
Cromer is about twenty miles from Norwich, and is often called "The north coast capital of the county". At the meeting place of five main roads, the Cromer rush hour is more the rush months ie during the summer.
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   | Information from Genuki Norfolk - GENUKI: Norfolk: Genealogy: Towns and Parishes: Cromer |
| | Empress Elizabeth and Cromer - Norfolk History and Past Times - Yesterdays - Empress Elizabeth of Austria - Cromer - Norfolk and Staying in Cromer Norfolk |
| | Cromer Lifeboat Station - Welcome to Cromer Lifeboats Online |
| | A guided tour of Cromer in pictures - Cromer, North Norfolk Coast, including Cromer Pier, Cromer Henry Blogg Lifeboat Museum |
| | Cromer Lifeboat Station - Welcome to Cromer Lifeboats Online |
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