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The Alfred Corry was Southwold's lifeboat for 25 years, from 1893 to 1918 and her brave crew saved no less than 47 lives during this period. The lifeboat itself, was built in Great Yarmouth and paid for by Alfred Corry, a Londoner who left money to the RNLI after his parents had been saved from drowning by the RNLI some years earlier. The Alfred Corry is 44 feet in length and had two masts carrying lug sails. She carried a crew of 18 and the most famous coxswain was Sam May, who led the boat from 1898 to 1918. Sam received many medals for his daring rescues, including medals from the French and Dutch. Apparently after his retirement as coxswain, he moved on to look after tourists by hiring out deck chairs and bathing machines from a hut on Southwold beach!

The Alfred Corry, as shown in a painting in the museum

After her service as a lifeboat, the Alfred Corry was converted to a yacht and served until after the 2nd World War, when she became a houseboat. During the mid 1970's, she was in a terrible state but was fortunately discovered by the grandson of John Cragie, her first coxswain in 1893. He began restoring the boat and after 4 years, the Alfred Corry proudly sailed back to Southwold Harbour.

The Alfred Corry, proudly restored

Since her return, the Alfred Corry has been cared for by a team of dedicated supporters and is housed in a museum shed at the Harbour. The museum shows the life of the Alfred Corry and her Southwold crew, illustrating the brave rescue attempts during her service as a lifeboat. The centerpiece of the museum is the Alfred Corry herself, surrounded by display boards and steps allowing you to take a look inside this wonderful piece of local history.

The stern of the Alfred Corry

The museum shed

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