Great Yarmouth Christmas Fayre

From Friday 26 November there will be a 3 day Christmas Market/Fayre in Great Yarmouth Minster. Of course last year it was cancelled due to the restrictions, so it will be good to see the Christmas Market back on! It's a 3 day event and is free entry! Come and have a look, it really is great fun!

The Monasteries of Great Yarmouth

The Priory, which is in the grounds of Great Yarmouth Minster, was once the home of a small priory of Benedictine monks.  The Priory nominated 3 chaplains and a deacon to perform the parish service.  Herbert De Losinga was the founder of the Benedictine Priory.  This priory had 15 monks until the dissolution in 1539.

There was also a Franciscan (Greyfriars) Friary which was founded in 1271.  This was dissolved in 1534.  Parts of the Friary still remain today close to the quay.  This includes the only remaining vaulted Franciscan cloister in the UK.

The Dominican (Blackfriars) Friary was founded in the 1270's on Friars Lane, where the Fire Station now stands.  This was dissolved during the Reformation.  This was demolished around 1600, and remains have been found from excavations, including a stone coffin.

Gt Yarmouth during WW2

Great Yarmouth was bombed extensively during the war.  It was bombed more than any other coastal town in the Country.  Between 1940 - 1944 217 people were killed in air raids.  There were 90 air raids altogether in the town.  237 properties were destroyed in total.  Much of the bombing occured in 'The Rows.'  Great Yarmouth was famous for it's many rows, and years ago, there used to be many more rows than there is today.  There used to be a total of 145 rows in the town.  Many of these narrow rows were homes to families, and many of these were bombed heavily.

On 8th April 1941 the town suffered considerable bombing from an air raid.  17 people were killed, and 68 were injured.

With Great Yarmouth being by the coast, and also being flat, it was at high risk of invasion.  Because of this risk, the town had to be protected.  There were mines and scaffolding placed on the beaches, and also pill-boxes placed in certain locations on the beach.  On 11th May 1943 an air raid took place at the ATS Hostel on North Drive.  Tragically, 26 ATS girls lost their lives.  The Burlington Hotel now stands on this spot, and there is a plaque on the wall to commemorate these brave ladies.

St Nicholas Minster damaged during an Air Raid.

As you can see from the image, Great Yarmouth Minster, then known as Great Yarmouth Church, was also heavily bombed during an air raid.  The Church was completely gutted.  Only the walls and Norman tower remained standing.

Great Yarmouth Minster

Gt Yarmouth Minster

A stained glass window

Gt Yarmouth Minster is no doubt a magnificent and highly popular place for locals and visitors alike.    It is the Parish Church of St Nicholas and is the largest Parish Church in Gt Yarmouth.  It was founded in 1101 AD by Herbert De Losinga.  The Church was finally completed in 1119.  This was also the last year of Herbert De Losinga's life.  He was the Bishop of Norwich.    In Medievil days, Gt Yarmouth was the fourth richest town in the Country, and the Minster had 19 guilded chapels, tapestries and stained glassed windows.

In 1649 the Church was divided into three sections.  This was because the Puritons demanded the use of the Church.  The Anglican Church used the south side, and the Puritons and the Presbytarians made use of the north aisle.  The Puritons was led by Rev Bridge.  All three demoninations held their services at the same time.  You can only imagine what this would have been like for the congregation, can't you?

The Church was enlarged in 1190.  This was largely due to replacement of Norman work with 8 arches each side of the Nave.   In 1286 the chancel aisles were added.  This was during the reign of Edward I.  And thirdly the transepts were build.  The Church was completed in 1332.  This was in the reign of Edward III.  Work began on a further enlargement in 1330 to a western transept.  The walls were 4 foot high when the work was stopped.  This was due to the outbreak of the black death in 1348.

From the birth of the Church up until 1536 the Church was used as a Priory of the Benedictine.  This was established by Bishop Losinga.  But sadly, under the reign of Henry VIII the monasteries were dissolved.

During WW2, the roof of the Minister and all the interior furnishings were destroyed when there was a fire caused by enemy bombing.  The current restoration began in 1957 with the help of the War Damage Commission.  There were 53 men from the Yarmouth area who aided in the restoration of the Church.  The Minster has since been restored to its original shape.  The Bishop of Norwich reconsecrated the Church in 1961.

On 9 December 2011 St Nicholas Church was designated a Minster by the Lord Bishop of Norwich.  It's official title now is The Minster Church of St Nicholas.

Great Yarmouth Minster Official Website