It is a much-loved relic of Great Yarmouth's maritime heritage that has looked over the North Sea for more than 150 years, and - in its early days - given shelter to its victims.

Now, after standing vacant for almost a half a decade, the three-storey council-owned Maritime House is on the market.

Eastern Daily Press: The Maritime House when it was still operating as the Sailors' Home. Picture - Newsquest ArchivesThe Maritime House when it was still operating as the Sailors' Home. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)Graham Plant, a senior Great Yarmouth borough councillor, said the former British and Foreign Sailors’ Home and Refuge for the Shipwrecked was now "surplus to requirements".

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Eastern Daily Press: Councillor Graham Plant. Picture - NewsquestCouncillor Graham Plant. Picture - Newsquest (Image: Jamie Honeywood)"It is costing ratepayers a lot for upkeep, and we haven't got a use for it," Mr Plant said.

"It's been put on the market. We hope the ground floor can still be used for tourism purposes."

Eastern Daily Press: The crew from a Dutch cargo streamer, which was mined and sunk in June 1916, on the steps of the Sailors' Home. Picture - Newsquest ArchivesThe crew from a Dutch cargo streamer, which was mined and sunk in June 1916, on the steps of the Sailors' Home. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)​Mr Plant added the council had previously looked into converting the upper floors into flats, but that endeavour was deemed too expensive.

The building, which has also been a museum and tourism information centre, has also been rid of its asbestos.

"It is what I would call a 'clean building' ready for conversion," Mr Plant added.

Eastern Daily Press: The building was home to the Maritime Museum from 1967 until 2022. Picture - Newsquest ArchivesThe building was home to the Maritime Museum from 1967 until 2022. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)

For the past ten years, the building has been a source of much debate within the council, with the recent decision to sell off the Grade II-listed building discussed on February 12.

The structure was built as the British and Foreign Sailors’ Home and Refuge for the Shipwrecked in 1860.

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Eastern Daily Press: The crew from a Cromer crab boat by the Sailors' Home. The boat was wrecked on Yarmouth beach in September 1910. Picture - Newsquest ArchivesThe crew from a Cromer crab boat by the Sailors' Home. The boat was wrecked on Yarmouth beach in September 1910. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)Old Etonian and philanthropist George Harcourt had formed the Beachmen’s, Fishermen’s and Seamen’s Institute two years earlier and launched an appeal to raise £2,000 for the home.

Thousands of sailors passed through the home over one hundred years, with 1,400 staying there during the Second World War.

The Sailors' Home closed in 1965 as advances in maritime safery reduced the need.

Eastern Daily Press: Maritime House served as the Tourism Information Centre from 2002 until 2015. Picture - Newsquest ArchivesMaritime House served as the Tourism Information Centre from 2002 until 2015. Picture - Newsquest Archives (Image: Newsquest Archives)From 1967, the building was used as the Maritime Museum.

After it closed in 2002, the museum's varied collection of 5,000 objects was moved to the yet-to-open Time and Tide Museum on Blackfriars Road.

After its life as a museum, Maritime House became home to the Great Yarmouth Tourist Authority until 2018 and the Tourist Information Centre until 2020.