NHER 55688 (Building record) - Lifeboat station and Caister Company of Beachmen

In 1841, the Caister Beach Company was formed. This was made up from local fishermen and sailors and they generally operated during the winter, out of the fishing season. During the violent, stormy winters they would assist stranded vessels and salvage shipwrecks. Taking advantage of salvage law, they made a decent trade, and when ships were saved they were entitled to a portion of the compensation. Beach companies such as this generally had a storage shed on the beach for their boat and often had a look out tower on top. Although accounts for the beach company go as far back as 1841, there are deeds and orders relating to ship purchases for "assisting ships or vessels in distress" at Caister as early as 1828. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries the beach company worked in tandem with the RNLI station at Great Yarmouth. During the First World War they helped minesweepers along the coast. In 1935 the company were ordered to leave their premises as the land lord wanted to demolish their storage shed. For a while they worked out of the new lifeboat station about 100 yards to the south. This was replaced in 1940 (the current building) and a new, motorised lifeboat was purchased in 1941, meaning it needed less crew and that the beach company, at this time the last in Norfolk, were no longer needed. The company's first headquarters is marked on the 1st edition ordnance survey map as "Lifeboat Station" about 100 yards north of the modern RNLI shed (S1).
See (S2).
W. Arnold (HES), 17th June 2011.