Henry Blogg museum move complete as repairs begin

The museum’s collection contains items vital to both the history of the town’s life saving past and the RNLI’s 200 years of life saving and staff and volunteers have spent many hours packing and preparing for the move.

H F Bailey was moved on Friday 20 September and the remaining items were taken from the museum in the week since ahead of major repairs to its home, the Rocket House, over the next six to 12 months.

Volunteers’ efforts to put on a fantastic summer programme for visitors and complete the move was marked with an event at the Blogg Bar in the Cliftonville Hotel on Thursday where they reflected on 18 years’ achievements and looked forward to reopening next year.

Jacqui Palmer, RNLI Heritage Development Manager (museum manager), said: “The operation to move the H F Bailey, and the entire collection, has been delicate and complex, and has taken months of planning.

“For the Bailey, we were dependent on so many different factors – including the weather, tides and availability of partners and contractors – that it was a nail-biting experience to the very end getting a time and day confirmed for it to go.

“It’s was an extraordinary and pain-staking event that involved the hard work of many people. We were so fortunate to have the support of partners and the many people who helped us wave an emotional goodbye as the Bailey worked her way through the streets.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the commitment and patience of those who are helping us do our very best to preserve this important part of Cromer’s history in saving lives at sea.”

Specialist movers arrived at the Rocket House on Thursday 19 September 2024 and began the careful process to prepare the lifeboat, used by lifesaving legend Henry Blogg in many of his most famous rescues, for its short journey through Cromer.

Despite travelling only a few miles, the operation involved detailed planning and support from many – including North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), Norfolk Constabulary, transporters Allelys, and, not least, those who live and work along the route to clear the way.

The move went ahead at lunchtime on Friday 20 September and took the historically significant lifeboat to safe storage nearby – restricting Brunswick Terrace, The Gangway and a section of the promenade around the museum during the operation.

NNDC recently committed £1m-worth of funding for the restoration at the Rocket House and, once completed, the historic lifeboat is due to return to the Rocket House along with the other artefacts that are going into safe storage.

The H F Bailey is the most famous RNLI lifeboat to have served from Cromer because she was used by Coxswain Henry Blogg, the most decorated lifeboat crew member in RNLI history, to perform many of his most famous lifesaving rescues.

The lifeboat was on station for the ten years between 1935 and 1945. She is now part of the National Historic Fleet and has been preserved in the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum in Cromer. Her return is scheduled to coincide with the 90th anniversary of her arrival on service.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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