The Buchans 2009: East Anglia 2009

Cromer is an old town with a long and unique history. Today one is reminded of the archetypal Victorian seaside town with a pier and many old buildings in the windy backstreets just behind the sea front.

We were staying at Seacroft Caravan Club site about a mile out of town. This was a private site taken over and updated by the Caravan Club. I think it is one of the best Caravan Club sites we have stayed on.

Cromer Pier – a nice traditional pier.

At the end of the pier is the new lifeboat house with this stained glass window.

Cromer’s most famous resident was Henry Blogg.

Coxswain Henry Blogg (1876-1954) was the RNLI's most decorated lifeboatman. During his 53 years of service Blogg was awarded three Gold and four Silver RNLI medals for gallantry, as well as the George Cross and British Empire Medal. With the assistance of his dedicated crew, he launched some 387 times and helped to save 873 lives around the Cromer coast.

In 2006 the Henry Blogg museum was opened to illustrate the history of Cromer lifeboats.

Yours truly at the museum.

Within a reasonable distance of Cromer are two National Trust houses. This is Felbrigg Hall. Extract from the NT website -

One of the most elegant country houses in East Anglia

Remarkable Stuart architecture and fine Georgian interior
Prolific library and Grand Tour collection
Stunning walled garden, orangery and orchards
Many lakeside, parkland and woodland trails to explore

Sue in the walled garden

Walled garden

We had hoped to visit many of the towns and villages along the north coast of East Anglia, but with so much to do we really only saw Sheringham and Blakeney.

Blakeney is an attractive village and small port at the mouth of the River Glaven. There are many narrow lanes of flint cottages, a fine church and medieval Guildhall. There are boat trips to view the seals on Blakeney Point.

Flint house

Throughout our trip we have been geocaching and on many occasions we have been taken to lots of interesting places. Here I am on top of an ‘esker’ near Blakeney. Eskers are casts of sub-glacial tunnels or ice-walled canyons near to an ice margin – that’s the short version.

In fact East Anglia had more hills then we expected and this was all due to deposition after the last Ice Age.

We have been to Blickling Hall before but it was well worth a second visit. We had met Margaret and Roger for lunch at the Saracens Head, near Erpingham which was very nice and then Sue and I went to BH.

Blickling Hall - Magnificent Jacobean house with gardens and park