alfredcorry.co.uk

The Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum

Ferry Road, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6NB, UK.

Telephone: 01502 723200

The Old Cromer Lifeboat Shed now the museum with the new front extension

During the winter months the Museum will only open at weekends

Saturday • Sunday

10.30am – 1.00pm & 2.00pm – 4.00pm

If the weather is bad, please ring 01502 722600 to check

We will make every effort to be Covid-Safe in the Museum.

Please wear a mask or visor during your visit.

We can provide one.

The Fisherman's Kitchen

Thanks to the many hours of planning and hard work by Dick Leon and Barry Waters, the 'kitchen' is now completed. It gives a glimpse of what life would have been like living on Southwold beach in the late 1800s.

Again we thank many local friends who have donated items for display in the kitchen – Lynn Nicholls our loyal Volunteer for painting, wall papering and producing the curtains and Sue Gooding for 'running them up'

Donations towards daily running costs and our new extension are appreciated

If you would be prepared to give up 3 hours a week to join us as a Volunteer Steward,

please ring either Frank on 01502 724484 or Paula on 07816 966292.

Your Museum needs you!

We now have improved access for visitors with limited mobility with the addition of a stair lift
to the mezzanine level, which enables access to the exhibition area and a view into the
interior of the boat.

The inauguration was performed by the former Mayor of Southwold, Councillor Ann Betts

The restored 'Alfred Corry' lifeboat

now 129 years old

Welcome to the home of the 1893 Southwold No.1 Lifeboat "Alfred Corry"

The 'Alfred Corry Charitable Trust' was set up in 1994 (Charity Commissions No. 1039030) in order to restore and preserve the 1893 Southwold No.1 Lifeboat 'Alfred Corry'. In March 2017 the Trust was registered as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and the number was changed to 1172006.

The 'Alfred Corry' was Southwold's lifeboat for 25 years from 1893 until 1918 which, during which period, she was launched 41 times and saved 47 lives.

The Museum is situated in the car park at the end of Ferry Road at Southwold harbour, in what used to be the old 1923 Cromer Lifeboat shed, moved to Southwold from Cromer 80 miles away, by sea in 1998.

Follow the links at the top of the pages to find out more about the fascinating story of the people involved in the boat's history, both past and present, and how it ended up back in Southwold after so many years away. Then there is the story of the old Cromer Lifeboat shed, which through a remarkable stroke of good fortune and quick action became the museum building itself. For those interested in the actual restoration work itself then the restoration section will show ongoing progress over a 15 year period. There is also a wonderful section on local maritime history compiled by our curator, Frank Upcraft, whose sterling pictorial efforts have produced the most colourful and informative additions to the museum's walls,some of which can be seen in the pictures below and here.

Many sections of the website are compiled by the people involved in the work, so you get a real insight into development of the boat and

museum by the people who made it happen. If you would like to know more, or just come and see for yourself, then you can visit us in beautiful Southwold and see the fruit of many years of dedicated voluntary hard work and love, and be regaled with the extraordinary stories of the lifeboat men who voluntarily put their own lives at risk in order to save those in danger.

Inside the Museum

The museum is full of items of local history, both of the boat and the shed in the form of various artefacts connected to the industry, and an extensive collection of old photographs depicting all aspects of the boat and its crew and the history of the lives it saved, all displayed in the most wonderful way, and our thanks go to curator Frank Upcraft for producing such a comprehensive series of displays! Anyone interested in local history will also find a large section devoted to the local fishing and maritime industries over the centuries. A large number of the photographs shown on the website were provided by Frank, to which we offer our thanks, as we do to all those who have contributed to the material on the website.

Some of the wonderful displays showing the history of the Alfred Corry as well as local

maritime and town history produced by the museum's curator Mr. Frank Upcraft.

We also have a range of related merchandise including jugs, pens, and colouring books all emblazoned with the

Alfred Corry logo, the proceeds of which went towards the restoration and currently towards the upkeep of the museum..

Come along and visit us and see for yourself.

We are located in the grounds of the harbour car park in Ferry Road, Southwold, so we couldn't be easier to visit!

We also take schools, parties and coach trips, and anybody wishing to bring such a group to visit the museum telephone 07944 586269

Friendly dogs with well behaved owners are welcome in

the Museum

Our young visitors were then presented with their booty!

Education and fun for

our young visitors

Our first young visitors successfully completing the Sea Shell Search and The Landlubbers Search.

125th Celebration Presentation

David Cragie (The great great grandson of John Cragie, the first Coxswain of the Alfred Corry) presenting Frank Upcraft, Curator, with the Water Breaker. Captain John Cragie, David’s father and great grandson of the first Coxswain, looks on!

The Water Breaker

The basket is a modern replica which contains the original earthernware water bottle which saw service on Southwold's lifeboats.

The Inauguration

of the new Stair Lift

Former Southwold Mayor

Miss Anne Betts on the new stair lift

Trustees Robert 'Jim' Blythe and Jack Storer

with Mayor Anne Betts

Alfred & Corry meet the Alfred Corry!

l to r – Captain John Cragie; Dick Leon - Master Carpenter; Alfred Wald; Corry Wald

and Frank Upcraft - Curator.

The Alfred Corry Museum

in Southwold welcomed

Mr & Mrs A Wald from Holland with flags, music and champagne.

It was a very special occasion when Mrs Corry’s sister Pauli, rang the museum from Delft and explained that her Sister Corry, was marrying Alfred and wondered if we would send a card wishing them well. Two way communication continued and culminated with the visit.

There was much laughter, and almost some tears, when the Dutch National Anthem echoed around the lifeboat shed. Other visitors to the museum joined in and helped to finish the celebration cake, which the Curator’s wife baked. There was even some Old Amsterdam Cheese too.

Come along and pay us a visit. We can’t promise you cake and cheese, but you’ll get a warm welcome!

Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum – The Harbour Southwold.