The Lifeboat House was built in 1898 to replace the Old Lifeboat House next door. However, it only functioned for a few years before the shingle built up so much in front of it, that launching a boat became too difficult. It was converted into living accommodation following World War One.

The University College London has owned the Old Lifeboat House since 1910 and it is still used today for field studies. Blakeney Point is an ideal location for studying the different coastal habitats of shingle ridge, salt marsh and sand dune.