If you saw my Six word Saturday this week you’ll know that I was recently in Great Yarmouth. For me it was a trip way back down Memory Lane, to the days when I had very little money and holidays were spent in caravans. This time I used Yarmouth as a base from which to visit family, but for old times sake I had to take a bit of a walk around. Perhaps you’d like to join me.
But first, did that photo trigger any memories? It stopped me dead in my tracks! It carried me right back to the amusement arcades of my youth. The simple joy of pounding those firemen with water and trying to knock them all down! I don’t think I ever fully succeeded, but how I enjoyed trying. In this age of technology I could hardly believe my eyes. If only the attendant had been there, I could have tried my luck again.
While I’m wallowing in nostalgia I might as well take you to the model village on the sea front. It’s as good a place as any to start but, as it’s closed, we’ll have to look in through the fence.
I might have spent a little while there but, deprived of the opportunity, I decided to check out the beach. I’m probably a little spoilt when it comes to beaches. This one did not score too highly.
Click on any photo in the group to open the galleries
For all of its seaside bluster, Great Yarmouth is a town with a rich history. The Wikipedia entry, from which I am quoting, is surprisingly big. It has been a seaside resort since 1760 and lies on a thin spit of land sandwiched between the North Sea and the River Yare. The gateway to the Norfolk Broads, and just 20 miles from the city of Norwich, I was interested to note that Daniel Defoe compared the town favourably with that city in his travel journals :
‘Yarmouth is an antient town, much older than Norwich; and at present, tho’ not standing on so much ground, yet better built; much more compleat; for number of inhabitants, not much inferior; and for wealth, trade, and advantage of its situation, infinitely superior to Norwich.’
He goes on to say that its quay is the finest in England, and not even inferior to Marseilles! Of course, I had to go and see the quay for myself. But not before I took a look at the Winter Gardens and Britannia Pier, both of which are Grade II listed.
It’s a shame that, in its prime location alongside the Wellington Pier, the stately Winter Gardens have fallen into disrepair. The cast iron framed glass structure was shipped by barge all the way from Torquay, on the south coast, in 1903.
Continuing along the front it’s almost impossible to avoid a pirate or two. No need to worry. They’re mostly harmless and intent on spying on the mini golf.
Turning your back on the seafront, follow Regent Road through the town and out to South Quay, to step into a different world. Victoria Arcade is a shopping mall in the old style, and it’s easy to spot the traditional Norfolk flint-faced buildings.
Remember Defoe and his liking for the quay? He also refers to ‘merchants houses, which look like little palaces, rather than the dwelling-houses of private men’. Charles Dickens stayed at the Royal Hotel on Marine Drive while writing ‘David Copperfield’, and used Yarmouth as a key location for the book. He was much taken with the place.
In the early 18th century, Yarmouth was a thriving herring port and this lasted for a couple of hundred years. When the fishing industry declined in the second half of the 20th century, Yarmouth was saved by the discovery of oil in the North Sea. Today it services offshore natural gas rigs, and the town has been keen to develop renewable energy in the form of a wind farm. 30 generators stand tall on Scroby Sands- a different kind of windmill for the Broads.
The Lydia Eva is the last surviving steam drifter of the herring fleet and is being preserved as a floating museum. But she is dwarfed by her new neighbours.
With a little more time I would like to have gone on board Lydia Eva, and to have visited the Elizabethan House and Great Yarmouth Row Houses. Perhaps even the museum dedicated to Admiral Horatio Nelson. (‘I am a Norfolk man and I glory in being so’). I did just manage to catch a glimpse of Nelson’s Monument, tucked away at the end of the promenade.
National Trust have designed a Yarmouth Heritage Trail complete with map- a good idea if you’re in the area. I think next week I should take you to Norwich to make a comparison.
So there’s another week gone by! Hope you enjoyed the walk, and many thanks to all my contributors. If you’d like to join in my Jo’s Monday walk, click on the logo above for details. I’d be delighted to have you along. Let’s put the kettle on now and settle in for a good read.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
We’re starting in Berlin this week, with Debbie :
Pretty, winding streets always make me smile. Thanks, Drake!
Don’t you love this wonderful world of friends we’ve created?
Wild orchids for Meg, meeting Marathon Man, then Elderflower sorbet to finish
Violet Sky has the perfect bench shot! Have you seen it, Jude?
I rather fancy a walk beside Lake Ontario. You too?
At the Grand Canyon, Amy suggests we can see
Geoff sounds suicidal, but I know he doesn’t mean it!
Ending it all: the Thames Path and reaching the source
Jude is always good company. She would soon cheer him up!
I have two authors keeping me company this week. What a privileged lady I am! Please welcome Dianne Gray. I hope many of you know her :
Rare birds or pirates? I’m going for pirates, of course! Please welcome newcomer Denzil to my walks :
Meldert: A mystery bird and a family of pirates
And I’m ending with a wonderful Summery Swedish walk with Viveka. Don’t miss it!
Fantastic contributions again this week. Aren’t you spoilt? I also want to give a ‘shout out’ to another Monday feature, Monday Escapes . I never seem to have the time to join in but there’s some great stuff in there.
Have a wonderful week ahead and I hope to see you next Monday (when you might get to meet the Norfolk family).
Thanks for stopping by my post on Bognor Regis – British seasides even when closed or in bad weather revoke to many childhood memories don’t they?
LikeLike
I live beside the North Sea and I’ve seen it in all weathers (which is probably why I love my Algarve escapes 🙂 ) Many thanks for returning the visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This post was “chock full” of cool sights, Jo. I liked the brightly trimmed beach huts newly repainted, the beautiful Victoria Arcade, the glass-windowed Winter’s Garden house, Merchants house and the Star Hotel.
LikeLike
It’s an interesting place if you delve beneath the seaside front, Robin 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for bringing Yarmouth to me as I have not been there for some years. It looks in great shape. Lovely to see an old British holiday resort looking so shiny. I can imagine Yarmouth as a herring port in the 18th century but had not realised that until you explained it. The games on the pier look so much fun. Glad the sun was shining for your walk. I had a great time joining in.
LikeLike
Hello Lita 🙂 Yes, it’s still quite an old-fashioned place, but I very much liked the quayside. 🙂 Lovely to have your company.
LikeLike
Looks nice Jo, and you had good weather. It’s been a bit of a washout this weekend. Quite a trek to get there from Hartlepool isn’t it?
Can I walk with you next time? I’ve got a Cornwall walk posted here: http://abitofculture.net/2015/06/21/history-and-beachlife-on-the-porthtowan-to-wheal-coates-coastal-walk/
LikeLike
I just jumped into the Reader and spotted you there, Richard and I was coming over to read it next. I’ve got tomorrow’s walk about 2/3rds written. Weekends lately have been dire. Yes- a long trip (via National coaches). Yarmouth’s a bit tacky but the Broads were beautiful. Thanks, Richard.
LikeLike
Hi Jo, now I have a car I can get further a field for exploring. I hate to say this but I did get a little directionally confused without Jack along!!! https://pommepal.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/a-walk-to-the-giants-causeway/
LikeLike
Oh no! 🙂 He’ll smile smugly if he ever reads this. I was just working on tomorrow’s walk when I saw your comment pop up, Pauline. On my way! 🙂
LikeLike
I think Jack will have a chuckle about loosing my direction. It is not an outing unless I make at least one wrong turn.
LikeLike
The similarity to the Belfast causeway is amazing, isn’t it? 🙂
LikeLike
I’ve never been to the Irish one Jo. Maybe this is a mini version?
LikeLike
Nor me! It looks huge in photos. Belfast is just another city on the list. No real excuse- it’s not exactly the other end of the world 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
I never got to Ireland, I always fancied travelling around in a gypsy caravan pulled by a horse. Now that would be fun…
LikeLike
Room in the back? 🙂
LikeLike
Any time….
LikeLike
So this is where Dickens set his David Copperfield! Interesting information, Jo!
LikeLike
There was much more to Yarmouth than I would ever have thought based on a holiday almost 40 years ago, Paula 🙂
LikeLike
Your Yarmouth was my Ocean City, in Maryland. Similar vacation spots in lots of beachside activity, not so similar in literary history and overall beauty. Your post made me very nostalgic for the place! Wonderful photographs, as always!
LikeLike
Thanks, Elisa. The best part of the weekend was the day boating with the Polish family. Come to think of it- the day in Norwich was good too. I’m a lucky duck, really! 🙂
LikeLike
What a fascinating place, Jo. I think I must have read about Yarmouth at some point, because I feel like it’s a familiar place, yet I’ve certainly never visited. Your photos share a wonderful view of a very special little town. Whenever I can walk some dunes I’m a happy camper! Very nice. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Debbie 🙂 Maybe you’re thinking of the Yarmouth in the US? I always feel it’s nice that there’s a connection with the names. Thanks, hon. All set for a happy weekend?
LikeLike
Enjoyed the grand tour Jo, although I couldn’t quite catch the resemblance to Marseilles 🙂 The lovely Victorian arcade reminds me of the covered shopping galeries in Paris.
LikeLike
I agree with you on both counts, Madhu 🙂 (though I’ve never actually been to Marseilles, Debbie’s brilliant photos have it high on my list)
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a very interesting town this is Jo with a fascinating history, yet it seemed rather people-less (if you know what I mean, Google doesn’t!!!), was it really this deserted or are you just very clever, or patient, to wait for every one to move on before you took the photos?
LikeLike
It was actually very quiet for June, Pauline (so much so that it was the subject of my Off Season/6WS post this week). We arrived about 4pm, I got Dad settled in at the hotel with his newspaper and half of lager, and I went for my stroll about 5. I guess everyone was thinking of food 🙂 The second half of the walk (along the quay and through the town) was the following morning about 9 so maybe they were still having breakfast? 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely to have your Dad along Jude. Is he a garden enthusiast too. My Dad was and I think that is were my addiction came from.
LikeLike
Not so much, Pauline. Mam loved her roses 🙂
LikeLike
My Mam was not a gardener but kept the garden going after Dad died as a sort of memorial to him, but she downsized a lot, no vegies and got rid of the glass house, put it all into lawn.
LikeLike
My stepdad was the veggies man (and Chrysanths 🙂 )
LikeLike
Oh yes… Those chrysanths my Dad had a greenhouse full of them
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great walk, Jo. I enjoy strolling along with you. 🙂
I have a number of walk photos from my recent holiday in the US and Canada. I can’t wait to share them, but I’ve got to edit them first. 😦
LikeLike
Many thanks, Karen. I like having your company but there’s no hurry to participate. Whenever it suits 🙂
LikeLike
It’s a very gloomy weekend here in Sydney, with nothing better to do than tackle those photos. Here’s a walk along Riverside Park in Manhattan:
https://elizabethkrallphotos.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/a-walk-in-riverside-park-manhattan/
LikeLike
Not a whole lot better here, Karen, so I’d better start writing my walk 🙂 Thank you!
LikeLike
Wretched weather does have one upside, I guess, in that it removes the excuse to not do ‘chores’ indoors.
LikeLike
No!!!! 😦
LikeLike
thank you for your entertaining gallery, Jo!
LikeLike
Happy to play hostess, Frizz 🙂 Thanks for your time.
LikeLike
We yanks tend to think of England as a small country full of oak forests, rolling green hills, a quay or two and London. The reality is you have quite a lot of variety and your country values it’s history and does a lovely job preserving the same. These towns you take us to on your visits were around for hundreds of years when we were just sitting down to a tea party. I truly appreciate the time you take in showing us non-natives the finer points of your beautiful nation. Reading your posts often sends me to Wikipedia then Google Earth. Arm chair travel at it’s finest. THANK YOU! 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you very much. I enjoy doing so a great deal, and especially so when I find someone who appreciates both the history and the effort 🙂 I always include a Wikipedia link to the town for more information but it’s probably not obvious. 🙂
LikeLike
How lovely!!
I have never been there, but it sounds like such a great place!!
Happy to have on board #MondayEscapes 😀
LikeLike
Thanks for your visit 🙂 I had a great weekend but some of that was due to being with my Polish family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome!!
How nice, I can imagine!!
LikeLike
Thanks for this nice and sunny walk, loved the pirates!
I come back with a walk after a long time:
https://colibrist.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/franz-josef-glacier-new-zealand/
Have a nice week!
LikeLike
I enjoyed playing hide and seek with you. 🙂 Many thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like quite an interesting walk! I think I like the beach huts the most! Fun colors. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Nicole 🙂 I love the traditional Norfolk architecture around the quayside best. Hope you’re enjoying those hols.
LikeLiked by 1 person