Covid19 and keeping safe in Gt Yarmouth

With Covid infections on the rise in the town, it is down to us to be all the more careful with our daily lives.  The mantra from the Government  is hands - face - space.  We are all aware of this, but how many people actually pay any attention to this?  I know the majority of people do, but there are many people that, sadly, do not.  When I go out to shops, I very often see people not wearing masks and close together in groups, and quite often with more than 6 people.  

If you look on the Gt Yarmouth Borough Council Official Website, you will see that there is plenty of advice for residents, businesses and visitors.  There's also plenty of support for people who have lost their jobs due to covid and for people who are on low incomes.  It's worth a look, believe me.  As we have been hearing a lot over the past few months, stay safe!  And it really is worth checking the Gt Yarmouth website for all the latest information, help and resources for people.

Blessed are those that mourn

With restrictions still in places in England, many Churches are still holding services online, either via Zoom or posting their services on platforms such as You Tube.  This is no different from my Church.  My Pastor has been posting weekly services on You Tube, and we meet on Zoom afterwards for a coffee and a chat.  As you can imagine, many of the congregation are missing Church and being around other people.  But it's such a good thing that we have the internet during this pandemic.  So, here is this weeks service which is titled Blessed are those that mourn.  I hope you enjoy the service.

Palm Sunday Reflections

This is the Palm Sunday Reflections from Park Baptist Church in Great Yarmouth.  Pastor Peter Timothy is streaming live on You Tube each Sunday whilst the Churches are all closed. 

Streamed on 5 April 2020.

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.