Collection: RNLI Henry Blogg Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  A lifeboat museum in Cromer first opened its doors in 1967. Housed in an old lifeboat shed, the museum shared with visitors a collection of objects and archives resulting from the work of Cromer lifeboat station. The collection grew with donations from the local community and tourists. An historic lifeboat was provided by the RNLI as a focus for the museum but had no connection to the local story. The lifeboat H.F. Bailey was purchased at auction and replaced the boat on display. H.F.Bailey served at Cromer from 1935 to 1945 under Coxswain Henry Blogg, the RNLI’s most decorated crewmember and Cromer’s national hero.

  The museum moved to purpose-built premises in 2006.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2019

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  • RNLB H.F.Bailey ON777

  (1446 on the National Register of Historic Vessels and part of the National Historic Fleet);

  • objects from the formation of a lifeboat service in Cromer at the beginning of the 19th century, to current RNLI services at Cromer;

  • a significant collection of medals and awards won by Coxswain Henry Blogg and Cromer crew including some of the first ever awarded bronze RNLI medals;

  • service records and correspondence of the station;

  • personal items belonging to Henry Blogg;

  • photographs;

  • items of equipment;

  • lifeboat models;

  • related wreckage from shipwrecks attended by Cromer lifeboats;

  • memorabilia and RNLI fundraising items;

  • Paintings, prints, works on paper;

  • Film and audio recordings.

  Total of 1308 objects (June 2019)

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2019

  Licence: CC BY-NC