In the old Lifeboat House is the 'George Elmy', a Liverpool Class RNLI Lifeboat. In 1962, it left Seaham on a rescue to local fishermen in distress. Tragically, after saving the crew, before it entered the harbour it capsized. The Liverpool Class was not one of the self-righting types of Lifeboat, and all the crew drowned, and all but one of those rescued drowned also. The 'George Elmy' was found washed up, upside down, on a local beach the next day. It was refurbished, put back into service, and eventually retired and became a fishing boat, like many old Lifeboats. It was restored and returned to Seaham last year, re-entering Seaham Harbour under its own power, returning home since leaving that night in 1962. It is now in the Lifeboat House, home to the East Durham Heritage Centre, as a very fitting memorial to the brave men of Seaham Lifeboat. The centre also has displays and photographs relating to the railways in the area
