The Jetty

The Jetty which once stood in between Wellington Pier and Britannia Pier was demolished in 2012.  There now stands a plaque where the jetty once stood giving people a short history of the jetty.  The reason this was demolished is because it would of cost the local council too much money to maintain - an estimated £300,000.  I remember at the time though that many local people were saddened at the fact that the jetty was going to be taken apart, mainly because of the historical factor.

As you can see from the photo above, the jetty wasn't very long, but nevertheless, it was popular with locals and visitors alike.  Built in the 16th century, this was built as a landing fish and also for the export and import of goods.  During the Napoleonic Wars this was used the fleet often assembled here.  And it is known that Lord Horatio Nelson visited here twice.  Firstly in 1800 after the Battle of the Nile and again in 1801 after the Battle of Copenhagen.

There was a campaign at the time to try and stop the demolition, but to no avail.  Sadly the Council thought the jetty was too unsafe to keep and thought it was too expensive to maintain.  As I said, there now stands a plaque where the jetty once stood.  But even so, it is sad to see this bare piece of beach where the jetty once stood.

The Maritime Festival in Great Yarmouth 2019.

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.

History of the seaside

People relaxing on Gt Yarmouth beach.

Way back in the 1800's it was generally the Gentry and aristocracy that visited the coast.  Back in those days, it was said that the sea water had medicinal purposes and was beneficial to ones health.  As such, the seaside was promoted as a healthy place to visit.  It was in 1759 that the Bath House was opened.  The baths were filled with sea water.  The sea, in those days, was not somewhere you swam for fun, unlike nowadays.

By 1846, around 80,000 people were visiting the town.  This was duch much to the introduction of the railway in 1844.  The addition of the railway changed who visited the town considerably.  People from towns and cities across the country flooded to the town.  People began swimming in the sea for fun.  The swimming costumes were almost like wearing their daytime clothes, and it was common to see men in fully clothed costumes.  There were very strict rules about men and women swimming together, and the rules were that they bathed on separate beaches.  You cannot imagine that these days, can you?  People were even fined if they were caught bathing together.

When you see how Great Yarmouth is today compared to those days, you can't image that there were such laws about men and women swimming separately.  The beach was considered good for your health, and the seaside was the place to be for the benefit of ones health.  You still hear people saying that these days, how the sea air is good your health.  But the holiday industry has, indeed, changed considerably and the beach is now packed with people from all walked of life, as has the costumes we bath in!

The Tolhouse Museum

The Tolhouse Museum

The Tolhouse is one of the oldest prisons in the Country.  It was built around 800 years ago and it was once the home of a rich merchant.  It then became the Courthouse and gaol.  Its dungeon was known as The Hold.  It was also the local Police Station at one point.  During WW2 it was gutted by bombs.  It has been a museum since the 1880's and today is still a popular museum with dungeons to visit and special events throughout the year.

While it was a gaol this was where the 16 people were held that were accused of witchcraft.  In Medievil times it was also used as a meeting place for the Baliffs of Great Yarmouth.  Sarah Martin, who was a prison visitor, also  used to visit the prisoners here regularly.  She moved from Caister to Great Yarmouth so she could help people less fortunate than herself in the nineteenth century.

Situated close to the Quay, it is now very different to how Yarmouth was when it was first built 800 years ago.  The Museum today has had visits from Ghost Hunters and enthusiasts.  Today the Library is just behind it, and is in excellent walking distance to town and other local museums.

Sarah Martin - Prison visitor of Great Yarmouth

Sarah Martin

Sarah Martin was born in June of 1791 and died in October of 1843.  She was the only child who was brought up by her Grandmother.  She learnt at an early age to sew and be a dressmaker.  Born in Caister, Norfolk, she used to walk the 3 miles to work in Gt Yarmouth every day.  After hearing a sermon one day, she was inspired to help those less fortunate than herself.  She began by teaching children in Sunday School.  She then learnt that the workhouse did not have a Chaplain.  so Sarah devoted one day a week to visit the workhouse.  She also provided comfort and friendship to the sick and elderly.

It was in 1818 that she first visited the Gaol in Great Yarmouth (now the Tolhouse Museum.)  This is where she discovered that the conditions were dreadful.  Her first visit was to visit a female inmate.  She went on to visit this gaol for seventeen years.  She read the Bible to the prisoners, and she also conducted services on Sundays.  She also taught practical things ready for when the prisoners were released, like teaching the women how to sew baby clothes.  She also taught the men how to make cloth caps, and also how to make needles and spoons from bone.  This gave the inmates invaluable experience and life lessons for when they were released.

When her Grandmother passes away, she left her just enough money to live on.  She also relied on her dressmaking skills to bring in money.  But when people saw the good she was doing, they were also kind enough to donate money to her to help her with her work.  There is a stained glassed window in Yarmouth Parish Church dedicated to her.  She worked in the gaol until bad health prevailed and she passed away on 15 October 1843.  She is buried in Caister graveyard alongside her Grandmother.