Repairs approved for building housing RNLI museum

The RNLI's musuem at Rocket House has been shut since 2024

Plans to repair a seafront council building housing an RNLI museum have been approved.

At a cabinet meeting, north Norfolk councillors agreed to spend £367,484 to fix chronic damp at Rocket House in Cromer.

The RNLI Henry Blogg Museum has been shut since 2024, as exhibits were being damaged. Getting the attraction reopen was a priority, said the council leader.

The authority also agreed to extend the RNLI's lease of its station at Sheringham, where repairs are also needed.

The council heard how damp "persists" where the rear wall of the building meets the cliff

Rocket House was built in 2006 on Cromer's east promenade and, as well as the museum, has a cafe, public toilets and a lift.

Tim Adams, Lib Dem leader of North Norfolk District Council, said approving the repair work had "important implications to the local economy and heritage".

He added: "We're pleased to have reached this point in time through continued cooperation with the RNLI."

Adams said with "a fair wind" the museum could reopen in 2026.

The council has previously agreed to a revamp totalling about £1m and officers say the work should still fall within the initial budget, but that more money may be needed later.

'Mistake'

Angie Fitch-Tillett, who holds the shadow portfolio role for coastal management for the council's Conservative group, criticised the continuing investment in the building and said it should never have been built.

"Our tax payers are going to be lumbered with this [building] for the foreseeable future. I repeat: this was a monumental mistake."

Coxswain Henry Blogg, carried out 387 rescues, and helped save 873 lives, between 1894 and 1947 and is the charity's most decorated volunteer.

The HF Bailey lifeboat, used by Blogg, was moved to special storage when the museum closed.

RNLI Head of Region Rebecca Felton welcomed the council's decision.

She said "The museum helps preserve the memory of Henry Blogg and all the people of Cromer who gave so much to saving lives at sea."

The council also agreed to extend the RNLI's lease of this station at Sheringham

Meanwhile, the RNLI has been operating temporarily from Cromer since January 2025 because of safety concerns with the Sheringham station.

"We are also very pleased that the council has agreed to extend our lease at the Sheringham RNLI station by 25 years," added Ms Fulton.

"This will enable us to carry out the necessary building works to ensure the long-term viability of the station in the area."