Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth istown onNorfolk, England coast withpopulationabout 90,000has beenseaside resort since 1760. It isgateway fromNorfolk Broads tosea.

For hundredsyearshas been dependent onherring fishery,todayservicesoffshore oil rigs.

The town suffered during World War II, but muchleft ofold city, includingoriginal over 2000 metresprotective medieval wall,which about two-thirds have survived. Of18 towers, 11left. OnSouth Quay, there is17th century Merchant's House, as well as Tudor, GeorgianVictorian buildings. Behind South Quay, there ismazealleyslanes known as "The Rows". Originally there were 145 rows. Despite war damage, several have remained.

The Tolhouse, completedungeons, dates fromlate 13th centuryis saidbeoldest civic buildingBritain.

The Market placeone oflargestEngland,has been operating since13th century.

The old partGreat Yarmouthlinked tomainland by Haven Bridge.

Yarmouth has two seaside piers, Britannia PierWellington Pier. The Maritime MuseumEast Angliasituated on Marine Parade.

There isinevitable monumentHoratio Nelson. Erected1819, itnow surrounded by factories.

Charles Dickens usedtown aslocationhis book David Copperfield.

Anna Sewell (1820-1878),author"Black Beauty", was born in17th century houseChurch Plain. The housenowmuseum.

The churchSt Nicholas, founded? by Herbert Losinga,first bishopNorwich,consecrated1119,one oflargest parish churchesEngland. Itcruciform, withcentral tower, which perhaps preservespart oforiginal structure, but by successive alterationsform ofchurch has been completely changed.

The Transitional clerestoried nave,columns alternately octagonalcircular, was rebuilt inreignKing John. A portion ofchancelofsame date. About fifty years lateraisles were widened, so thatnavenownarrowest part ofbuilding. A grand west fronttowerspinnacles was constructed1330 - 1338, butbuilding was interrupted byvisitation ofplague. In16th centuryornamental brasses were cast into weights andgravestones cut into grindstones. Withinchurch there were at one time eighteen chapels, maintained by gilds or private families, but these were demolished byReformers, who soldvaluable utensils ofbuildingappliedmoney towidening ofchannel ofharbour. DuringCommonwealthIndependents appropriatedchancel,Presbyteriansnorth aisle andChurchmen were allowedremainder ofbuilding. The brick walls erected at this timeseparatedifferent portions ofbuilding remained till 1847. In 1864tower was restored, andeast end ofchancel rebuilt;1869—1870south aisle was rebuilt;in 1884S. transept,west end ofnave andnorth aisle underwent restoration. The width ofnave26 ft., andtotal length ofchurch236 ft.

History

A grammar-school was founded1551, whengreat hall ofold hospital, founded inreignEdward I by Thomas Fastolfe, was appropriatedits use. It was closed from 17571860, was re-established bycharity trustees,settlednew buildings1872.

Yarmouth (Gernemwa, Yernemuth), which lies nearsite ofRoman campGariannonum,believedhave beenlanding-placeCerdic in5th century. Notafterwards,convenienceits situation having attracted many fishermen fromCinque Ports,permanent settlement was made, andtown numbered seventy burgesses beforeNorman Conquest. Henry I placedunderrule ofreeve. The charterKing John (1208), which gave his burgessesYarmouth general liberties according tocustomsOxford,gild merchantweekly hustings, was amplified by several later charters assertingrights ofborough against Little YarmouthGorleston.

In 1552 Elizabeth grantedcharteradmiralty jurisdiction, afterwards confirmedextended by James I. In 1668 Charles II incorporated Little Yarmouth inborough bycharter whichone brief exception remainedforce till 1703, when Anne replacedtwo bailiffs bymayor.