Located on the east coast of England, in the county of Norfolk, and around 20 miles north of Norwich, is the town of Cromer.
The first recorded mention of Cromer dates back to the 13th century. Its name is believed to derive from Old English 'crāwe', meaning 'crow' and 'mere', meaning 'pond/pool/lake'. A neighbouring settlement called Shipden is mentioned in records from the Domesday Survey of 1086 until the 15th century, at which point it is speculated to have been lost to the sea.
During the medieval era, Cromer enjoyed a period of prosperity as a fishing settlement. The wealth from this era is punctuated by the Church of St Peter & St Paul. However, its fortunes had dwindled by the 18th century, at which point it was essentially a small village gathered around a poorly maintained church. Its population at the time of the first census in 1801 was 676.
Cromer's fortunes began to return in the years that followed as the Georgian fashion of sea bathing for medicinal purposes had started to spread across the country. Early visitors included the local gentry, among whom were some wealthy Norwich banking families. They helped to develop the town, but at the same time keep its visitors select, and thus ensure Cromer's growth was more measured than other seaside towns. It was during this period of growth in the 19th century that restoration work took place on the Church of St Peter and St Paul.
Records indicate that a jetty existed in Cromer from as early as 1391. In 1822 a 64-metre (210 ft) wooden jetty was built, but was washed away in 1843. Another jetty was built in 1846 and stood until 1890 when it too was destroyed by the heavy seas. Finally, in 1901, an iron pier measuring around 150 metres (500 ft) long opened. It remains in place to this day, having survived multiple instances of storm damage through the decades. In 2004 the pier pavilion was opened by Stephen Fry.
In 1877 the first of two railway stations to have existed in Cromer opened. It became known as Cromer High. The second station opened in 1887 and was originally known as Cromer Beach. Cromer High station closed in 1954, leaving just Cromer Beach, which was later renamed to, simply, Cromer, in 1969. It remains open to this day as part of the Bittern Line. Named after a rare bird found in the reedy wetlands of Norfolk, the line links up Norwich to the neighbouring coastal town of Sheringham. Trains between Norwich and Cromer take around 40 to 50 minutes.
Famous people from Cromer include inventor James Dyson. In addition to its appeal as a seaside resort, the town is also renowned for its main seafood export - the Cromer crab.
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Filmed: 10th July 2023
Link to the walk on Google Maps: goo.gl/maps/TA29UuLPy6KN16Po7
Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Church Street
4:55 West Street
5:45 Prince of Wales Road
6:38 Hamilton Road
7:32 Garden Street
9:17 New Street
11:00 West Cliff
12:36 Esplanade
19:45 Brunswick Terrace
20:38 The Gangway
21:09 Cromer Beach
22:18 View from the Pier