UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND

England

Region: East of England

Shire County: Norfolk

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Great Yarmouth is located on the eastern coast of England, in the county of Norfolk. Its population is about 46,800 (2001). Great Yarmouth is the largest town in the borough of Great Yarmouth (population 2003: 92,100).

Located near the site of the Roman camp of Gariannonum, Yarmouth (Gernemwa, Yernemuth) is believed to have been the landing-place of Cerdic of Wessex in the 5th century. Soon afterwards, the convenient location attracted many fishermen from the Cinque Ports (Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich). The permanent settlement that was founded numbered 70 burgesses before the Norman Conquest (1066). Henry I (r.1100–1135) placed it under the rule of a reeve. The charter of King John (1208), which gave his burgesses of Yarmouth general liberties according to the customs of Oxford, was amplified by several later charters asserting the rights of the borough against Little Yarmouth and Gorleston. In 1552 Elizabeth I granted a charter of admiralty jurisdiction, afterwards confirmed and extended by James I (VI of Scotland). In 1668 Charles II incorporated Little Yarmouth in the borough by a charter which with one brief exception remained in force until 1703, when Anne replaced the two bailiffs by a mayor.

Great Yarmouth has been a popular seaside resort since 1760 and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea. For hundreds of years it has been dependent on the herring fishery, and today it services the offshore oil rigs. The town suffered during World War II, but much is left of the old town, including the original over 2-km-long protective medieval wall, of which about two-thirds has survived; of the 18 towers, 11 are left. The Tolhouse, complete with dungeons, dates from the late 13th century and is said to be the oldest civic building in Britain.

The picture on glass no. 2008 shows Britannia Pier, one of the two seaside piers of Great Yarmouth. The original wooden structure was opened in July 1858. The 700-ft pier was badly damaged only one year later by the schooner 'James & Jessie'. This damage resulted in the pier being reduced in length by 50 feet. In the 19th century the pier was often used for evening band performances and open air concerts. In 1880 a properly enclosed area was constructed to protect visitors from the elements. At the turn of the 20th century, Great Yarmouth became a quite prosperous seaside resort. The old wooden pier was replaced by a wood and steel construction with a 2,000 seat pavilion. Construction works started in December 1900 and the pier officially opened again in June 1902. Several fires damaged the pier in the following years (1909, 1914, 1932, 1954) and each time the pier buildings had to be restored. The pavilion shown on glass no. 208 is the structure of 1902–1909.

Another glass in this collection is from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia (Canada).

[Texts adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Yarmouth, http://www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/, http://www.britannia-pier.co.uk/]