The Fishermen's Lifeboat Museum

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Sheringham’s Fishermen’s Lifeboat Museum is dedicated to telling the story of the lifeboats 

provided by the Upcher family of Sheringham Hall for the use of the fishermen of what was originally Lower Sheringham, a small fishing hamlet which grew steadily during the 19th century as the number 

of fishing families there increased and then later, after the arrival of the railway, as a fashionable seaside resort. 

The Upchers provided three boats in all: the Upcher, a large fishing boat used also for rescues but 

not constructed as a lifeboat, the Augusta, Sheringham’s first true purpose-designed lifeboat, and 

her successor the Henry Ramey Upcher. The lifeboat shed was probably built about 1875 for the 

Augusta lifeboat (1838-1894). When the Henry Ramey Upcher was constructed in 1894 she was moved to the lifeboat shed and the Augustamoved into storage, remaining there for many years. 

The Henry Ramey Upcher was launched from the lifeboat shed throughout her service life. At the end of her active life in 1935, she remained in the lifeboat shed and various attempts were made to create a Lifeboat Museum. 

In 1983 the Sheringham Preservation Society took over the organisation of the lifeboat shed from

 the town council and the lifeboat museum was opened regularly to the public.The fishing sheds adjacent to the lifeboat shed are a rare surviving example of long shore fishing storage sheds. 

After they were no longer in use by the fishing community, they were restored and renovated by the Society from 2004 to increase the exhibition space available and to house what was at first known 

as the Fishermen’s Heritage Centre. 

The present Fishermen’s Lifeboat Museum is now maintained by the Sheringham & District Society. 

At this atmospheric museum on Sheringham’s seafront visitors can marvel at the effort required to launch an open boat into a storm and learn about the lives of the fishermen crew who risked their 

lives for others.

The Henry Ramey Upcher is the main exhibit in the museum. This fine example of a rowing and sailing lifeboat was in operation for over 40 years until 1935.

The Henry Ramey Upcher is 10.59m (almost 35 feet) long and 3.43m (just over 11 feet) wide with 

a keel length of 8.76m (almost 29 feet). It was powered by eight oars each side. The mast and sail could rarely be used in rescue work because of weather conditions. Unlike most other lifeboats of 

the time and since, it was not provided with a carriage to assist launching. The weight is about 3,000kg (3 tons), so a huge amount of effort was required by the crew and helpers to drag it over 

the shingle into the sea and to pull it back up the beach after its service.

The Henry Ramey Upcher is registered as a National Historic Ship, with certificate number 2481. See https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/2481/henry-ramey-upcher

Within the museum are memorials to the lifesaving actions of the fishermen and visitors can learn about some of the rescues made. The museum exhibits memorabilia relating to the Sheringham lifeboats that were paid for by the Upcher family.

There is also information about, and a photographic record of, some of the fishermen who crewed the private lifeboats, many of whom worked in and around the fishing sheds, with displays about how they won their livings from the dangerous waters of the North Sea and how they launched the lifeboats into perilous seas, without radio or diesel engines. Other exhibits tell stories of 

Sheringham’s boat building families of those times.

The Fishermen’s Lifeboat Museum is staffed by volunteers from the Sheringham & District Society and is open daily throughout the tourist season.

Virtual Tour

https://goo.gl/maps/GdY8ySdPWC2zLzDT7

Watch the Video

https://vimeo.com/christaylorphoto/hru