Welcome to my Virtual geocache. For those of you that are unsure what a virtual geocache is, this means there is no container to find or log to sign. Instead you need to answer a couple of questions and upload a picture, details of which can be found at the end of the page. But first, some history of the Pier........
Cromer Pier
Cromer Pier has been crowned Pier of the Year 2024 by The National Piers Society
A coveted award for the iconic Norfolk landmark. This is the third time that Cromer Pier has won the award, with previous wins in 2000 and 2015.
Known as the gem of the North Norfolk Coast, Cromer Pier is a grade II listed, 151m structure that is home to the Pavilion Theatre. One of only five UK seaside piers with a fully flourishing theatre, Cromer Pier is home to the only end of pier show of its kind in the world, now in its 47th year. Enjoyed by generations of visitors, 2023 marked a landmark winter season as The Cromer Pier Christmas Show saw record-breaking ticket sales.
The Pier
There has been a Pier or Jetty in Cromer since 1391. Letters granting the right to levy duties for repairs suggest that attempts at maintenance seem to have gone on until 1580. In 1582, Queen Elizabeth I granted the right to the inhabitants of Cromer to export wheat, barley and malt for the maintenance of their town and towards the rebuilding of the pier.
The Last Wooden Jetty
A 210 foot jetty was built in 1822 but was washed away in 1843 to be replaced, two years later, with a 240 foot structure. The last wooden jetty was built in 1846 and, described as a “plain wooden structure”, was just 70 yards long. By night, it was regulated by several bylaws: for instance, smoking was only allowed after the hour of nine o’clock when ladies would be expected to have retired for the evening. This lasted until 1890 when it too was destroyed by heavy seas so much so that it had to be dismantled and Cromer was left without a pier. The remains were sold at auction for £40.
A 500 foot iron pier, the inspired work of a London engineering firm, Douglass and Arnott, replaced the second jetty. It opened on 8 June 1901, having cost £17,000. A bandstand was erected at the head. This was extended in 1905 to form a pavilion.
Sectioned in 1940 for defence purposes, the gap was bridged with planks to allow the lifeboat station to be reached (lifeboats have been stationed here since 1923).
The Pier was damaged by storms in 1949, 1953, 1976 and 1978. In 1985, a new tide gauge was fitted by Shell Expro to assist with their offshore survey operations in the North Sea.
In February 1990, gales destroyed the amusement arcade and, on the 14th of November 1993, a 100 ton rig crashed into the Pier, isolating the theatre and lifeboat station. Repairs were made in time for the 1994 season.
Major reconstruction work has been carried out since 1993 by contractors Dossor East (first winners of the National Piers Society’s ‘Peter Mason Award’ for engineering excellence).
In 1997, the old lifeboat house and launching ramp were temporarily removed.
The Pier pavilion was reopened by actor Stephen Fry on the 27th June 2004, but was damaged by a storm early in the following year.
In February 2012, it was announced that £8m of work was set to begin on revamping Cromer pier and the town’s Victorian sea defences.
In January 2023, Cromer Pier got a £45,000 upgrade to modernise the Pavilion Bar including refurbishment of the bar & toilets.
(Information source from cromerpier)
Pavilion Theatre
The Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre is best known as the venue to the ONLY ‘End of the Pier’ show of its kind in the World!, where audiences can be entertained by a line up of traditional variety acts for three months throughout the summer.The Cromer Pier Show, also known as Seaside Special, is one of the few true live variety shows in Britain and it showcases live variety acts at their best. No other pier in the world can boast the same credentials which makes The Cromer Pier Show a ‘must-see’ experience.
Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre has approx. 450 seats making for an intimate experience but drawing quality acts who always enjoy returning to the stage here. In the past many now familiar names developing their careers here, including Bradley Walsh who is a staunch supporter of the show, Steve Hewlett, the hilarious ventriloquist, who made it to the finals in 2013’s Britain’s Got Talent, Danny Posthill who also made it as a finalist in Britain’s Got Talent 2015, crazy pair, comedian Phil Butler and comedy juggler James Bustar and with the voice of an angel, singing sensation Emily Yarrow. The Cromer Pier Show is nationally famous as an “incubator” for true, quality talent for dancers, singers, actors, magicians, comedians and other variety acts so, by coming to see the Summer Show, you could be seeing the stars of the future….
The 40th anniversary year of the show in 2017 was hailed as the best ever by the national and local press and in the past few years, top newspaper in the theatre industry, The Stage awarded the show with a five-star review.
Cromer Pier Pavilion Theatre also presents a high-quality mix of comedy, music, dance, opera, musicals and community shows. Some of the names that have appeared here over the years include Julian Lloyd Webber, Pam Ayres, Michael Portillo, The Manfreds, Sooty, Pasha Kovalev, winner of Strictly Come Dancing, Jim Davidson, Roy Chubby Brown, Lyn Paul, guest vocalist in our 2014 Christmas Show, Chas & Dave, Blake, Joe McElderry, Marty Wilde MBE, The Searchers and new talent Roving Crows.
(Information source from cromerpier)
To Claim this virtual cache you need to answer the questions below
1) The Coordinates for waypoint 1 will take you to the end of the Pier. Facing the Lifeboat Station how many lifebouys can you see?
2) Waypoint 2 will take you near the entrance to the Pier where there is an information board consisting of Cromer Pier Facts. Looking at his fact board, tell me how long the quickest costume change was during the Cromer Pier Show?
3) Upload a picture of you (face shot not neccessary) or your GPS device or a piece of paper with your caching name clearly written on it taken anywhere on the Pier.
Please send your answers to me via my profile or email. You dont need to wait for confirmation before logging but any logs that are not followed up with the answers may be deleted.
Please dont include your answers within your log as they wil be deleted immediately.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.