Cromer: The Gem of the Norfolk Coast
Cromer, ‘the gem of the Norfolk coast’, is described by one historian as ‘an ever-changing tapestry’ of history, natural beauty and community life. Once home to a lost parish called Shipden, Cromer is now a quintessentially British seaside town: its pier and Hollywood-esque mottled promenade make it the epitome of the British seaside and its medieval church, the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, nostalgically recalls the historic importance of religion to coastal life in Britain.
Cromer Pier at sunset. Photograph by © Andreas Yiasimi.
Cromer – known locally as ‘the gem of the Norfolk coast’ – is a living, breathing seaside town bursting with historic wonders and panoramic views that have inspired poets, painters and movie makers for generations. A town that comes with its own Cromer crabs, its fishing heritage and more than its fair share of colourful characters, which has managed to survive the ups and downs and different eras of the 20th century and looks as enchanting today as it did 100 years ago.
It is a story that, like the story of Cromer, owes its origin to the story of its predecessor, Shipden, a parish that thrived at sea level but was slowly overwhelmed by it. For it was some time in the reign of Henry IV that Shipden was hit by a severe storm or series of storms, strong enough to drag the parish, its buildings (such as Shipden Church) and many residents to some place of salvation – in this case, a slightly receded coastline, on which a new town was formed and called after it, Cromer.
The Transformative Steam Age
Although Cromer is still beautiful, it is the golden age of steam that thrust it into the spotlight, making it an attractive destination for people from all over. The railway played a part in this, arriving in the late 19th century at just the moment that travel was made easier and gentler by steam. Tourists came flocking to its shores as the Victorians discovered new ways to escape London for the sea air, drawn by Cromer’s pretty hills and, indeed, genteel attitude.
During this time, the seafront developed into the modern town, reaching its zenith with the construction of Cromer Pier between 1899 and 1901. The Pavilion Theatre at the seaward end of the pier was a showcase of world-class architecture, but it was also the focus of life in the town, hosting celebrities from Tennyson to Oscar Wilde and even, at the turn of the century, Winston Churchill – who, when he came to stay with friends at the top of East Beckham Road in 1899, must have been struck by a whiff of squalor emanating from the marshes, by now very much the ‘back of beyond’.
Bridging Time: Cromer’s Enduring Appeal
Today that mixture of old and new is there to be experienced: an old fishing village with a Victorian seaside resort overhaul, a true elegance of past and present. From the fishing village of old to the elegant Victorian seaside resort of today, as I walked there was an old town history in people’s eyes. I ended up back in Cromer, surely the home of walking. Everything was easily accessible on foot, offering the perfect mix of the old and the new, the seaside and its history in one. I enjoyed my last stroll on the pier with a step up in sight, beautiful trees, blossoms and sunny weather that ended my day perfectly. A cold apple juice and then it was time to go home.
Cromer Pier: A traditional British seafront pier with a unique theatre jutting out from its end, providing lovely sea views, and providing a cultural hub for Great Britain with the world’s only end-of-pier show.
Cromer Museum: Set in a quaint fisherman’s cottage, this museum reveals the town’s multiple pasts: from an early history built on fishing to its Victorian boom.
Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul: The eye is drawn to this medieval church which symbolises Cromer’s religious history and physical architecture.
Cromer Beach: the town’s golden sands, lapped by the North Sea, retain their popularity with those seeking peace or adventure along the crashing tide.
Cromer Lifeboat Station and Lighthouse, the maritime guardians at the lifeboat station and lighthouse reveal the town’s central function as a safety net for those out at sea.
Written byAndreas Yiasimi (https://norfuknews.com/)