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Books > Cromer, Sheringham and Holt Photographic Memories
Blakeney, the Blakeney Hotel 1925 (ref. 77525) | This hotel is owned by Elsden & Co Ltd of Holt, and has fine
views out to sea and taking in all the activity of the quayside. It
provides guests with fine food and the opportunity to explore
the coastline on foot or by sea. On rare occasions, mainly in
springtime, the sea has been known to spill over the jetty and
flood right up to the hotel. This village has retained all its charm,
and is favoured by tourists from all over the world.
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Cromer, the Sands 1906 (ref. 56855) | With their vivid
imaginations taking
them away from
schoolwork and
parental control,
the children are
digging, building
sandcastles or
looking for treasure.
Mothers or even
nannies - because
Cromer was popular
with titled and
influential families
- take time to relax
in the deckchairs,
while others on the
left stroll along the
promenade. The
Lotus tearoom next to
the card shop (centre)
provided meals to eat
inside and trays of
refreshments to take
onto the beach.
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Cromer, from the East Cliff 1906 (ref. 56849) | Many would consider that the best views of Cromer are from the
east. Certainly the ladies prefer this side, which has easy access to
the beach from the smart part of town. A tan was not considered
fashionable by the gentry, so large hats and brollies are the order
of the day.
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Cromer, the Sands c1950 (ref. C192001) | Only one or two brave
souls are paddling in the
sea. As always, a fishing
boat draws a small but
interested crowd, even
though it is empty.
Fashions are still very
conservative, and styles
do not appear to have
changed much since the
1920s. Perhaps designers
are still feeling the effects
of shortages since the end
of the Second World War.
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Cromer, from the Sea 1902 (ref. 49059) | With its imposing 160ft-high tower,
Cromer church was erected in the
reign of Henry IV and dedicated
to St Peter and St Paul. Probably
the only building of interest
to antiquarians in Cromer, it
commands a fine view of the sea
and surrounding countryside.
This dramatic view from the sea is
a common but welcome sight to
seafarers, especially to lobster and
crab fishermen, who congregate
at this part of East Beach - it has a
slipway. A number of the houses
and apartments facing the sea have
open balconies, ensuring that the
occupants gain the full benefit of
the sun and bracing sea breeze.
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Cromer, launching of the Lifeboat c1960 (ref. C192022) | Remember this photograph, and do not hesitate when you see collectors in the streets on
Lifeboat Day. A lifeboat launch is an exhilarating thing to see, especially when you realise
that brave men are risking their own lives to save others.
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Cromer, Hall 1925 (ref. 77521) | This building replaced a fine
Gothic-style mansion which was
burnt down before its completion
in 1829. The estate has 700 acres
of land, most of which belonged to
the Countess Listowel, daughter of
Admiral Windham. It was a custom
for the lady of the manor to allow
visitors to look around the grounds
(but not the house) for a small fee.
Tickets were sold in the town by
various businesses of high standing.
The encroaching ivy covers some
excellent flint work. Classical
statues are placed at each end of
the building, and stone knights in
armour stand in protective pose
near the main entrance.
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Cromer, the Pier c1950 (ref. C192002) | This small esplanade at East
Beach leads from the pier and
passes the gangway where
the fishermen launch and
land their boats. This area is
illuminated by beautiful, ornate
lamp posts. The Victorian
lavatories under the steps with
their decorative brickwork and
small domes are a work of art.
Cafes and shops abound on
this easy route to the beach.
In this area, all the benefits of
the town are within easy reach.
A lifeboat station has been
added to the end of the pier,
saving precious minutes when
launching the lifeboat.
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Cromer, the Pier 1906 (ref. 56852) | This picture was taken five
years after the pier was
opened by Lord Claude
Hamilton. The bandstand
was the original feature
at the end of the pier, and
the Royal Italian Band
(advertised on one of the
kiosks on the landward
end) were one of the first
visiting bands to have
played there. Entrance
charges for the pier were
2d, with an additional 2d
to get into the bandstand.
Because of its success it
was decided to develop the
bandstand into a theatre,
and the Vagabonds with Mr
Anderson Nicol were one
of the first acts to appear
on a regular basis. Cromer
did its bit for the First
World War by donating
the ornate entrance gates
for scrap metal - they
were melted down and
converted into armaments.
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Cromer, Jetty Street 1925 (ref. 78688) | This narrow road is unusually quiet - it must have been a weekday. On a Sunday, it would be crammed full of parading
fashionable ladies, who would be walking back after the service from the church to the Hotel de Paris.
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Cromer, High Street c1955 (ref. C192009) | This is the main route
from Runton and
west Norfolk into the
centre of town. It has
hardly changed today,
and the original
buildings are still
intact; they escaped
bomb damage during
the Second World
War. This view is not
particularly attractive,
because it shows
the rear views of the
properties on the
right, which face the
sea front, and are
better seen from that
direction. Tourists
are not the tidiest of
our species, but the
road sweeper (middle
distance, centre) is
doing a great job.
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Cromer, West Promenade c1955 (ref. C192004) | The north winds have
taken their toll and bent
the lamp-posts which
illuminate this slope
during the evening.
The covered stalls and
amusement tents are
huddled together in the
shelter of the cliffs. The
increasing number of
these facilities crammed
into this popular
spot forced the local
fishermen to move their
boats to the opposite end
of the promenade nearer
to East Beach.
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Cromer, from West Cliff 1902 (ref. 49068) | Before it was developed
with grand apartments
and hotels, gentlefolk,
and even ladies on their
own, as here, were able to
stroll peaceably along this
quiet stretch of West Cliff.
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Cromer, War Memorial 1921 (ref. 70964) | This memorial to those who fell in the 1914-18 War has been renovated, and it is kept in good
condition. It is located in Church Street in a prominent position in front of the church of St Peter
and St Paul.
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Cromer, East Beach from the Pier 1954 (ref. C192014) | Every aspect of a seaside holiday is shown here. We see sandcastles, deck chairs, gentlemen
paddling with their trousers tucked up, and ladies doing the same whilst carrying their shoes. There
is even Punch and Judy - but in this case it is only a restaurant (right). The Red Lion Hotel (left)
offers good food and public entertainment. The Bath Hotel (centre) is situated on the site of Bath
House, which was smashed into pieces by a very high tide in 1836. It was not alone, as many other
sea-facing properties also suffered extensive damage.
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Cromer, 1933 (ref. 85766) | This man and his best friend are sheltering from the sun on the north-facing side of this Victorian enclosure. They appear
to be deciding which way to go, as there is a choice of two esplanades: one is virtually on the beach, where dogs have total
freedom, and the other is along the top of the cliffs, where to keep the animal on a lead is safer for all concerned.
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East Runton, Caravan sites c1955 (ref. E11020) | The author, who owns a touring caravan, has mixed opinions on this view of Cromer from East
Runton. These are permanent caravan sites; can anyone say that this type of development enhances
the countryside when they are placed right on the coast? Tourism improves the local economy, but
there must be more suitable locations than this.
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East Runton, High Street 1921 (ref. 70970) | With only a few of the
original cottages remaining
on the right-hand side of
this picture, we can see that
this village is undergoing a
population explosion, with
many families moving from
Cromer. Most of the houses
on the left-hand side cater
for holidaymakers, and new
businesses have opened up
to capture their trade. The
pub on the left is the White
Horse Inn dating from 1851.
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East Runton, the Beach c1955 (ref. E11036) | Families are leaving the
beach and strolling to the
roadway, which is a short
distance from the village
centre. W Green (his pitch
is in the left foreground)
has done reasonably well
in supplying deckchairs.
The military vehicle is used
to pull boats belonging to
the fishermen to a safe and
easier spot to unload their
catch. Crabs and lobsters
are caught here - there is
an empty crab pot on the
sea wall.
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East Runton, the Beach Entrance 1921 (ref. 70967) | A similar gap to the
one at West Runton
provides reasonable
access to the beach.
Knowledge of the
swift tides and
currents in this area
is vital, and that is
why there are more
fishermen using this
beach than tourists,
who have heeded
the warning. From
the gap and up the
gentle slope there is a
charming cliff walk to
Cromer, which is not
so pretty these days -
there are hundreds of
permanent caravans
lining the route.
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