A

Snapshot
Of
Great Yarmouth
150 years
Ago
Advertisements from the
Yarmouth Independent of 1863

The Eighth Monograph produced by the

Great Yarmouth Local History and Archaeological Society
 Copyright © Great Yarmouth Local History and Archaeological Society

Published by
Great Yarmouth Local History and Archaeological Society
Registered Charity No 277272

2013

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or

introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior written
permission of the publisher.

Every endeavour has been made to trace any copyright that exists on the material in
the book, but often the owner of the copyright is unknown. If the society has
contravened copyright, please accept our apologies and the publisher will be happy to
include a full acknowledgement in any future edition

Printed
by
RPD Litho Printers, Gorleston, Norfolk

2
 Great Yarmouth Local History
and Archaeological Society

On 25th January 1888, the Great Yarmouth branch of the Norfolk and Norwich
Archaeological Society was formed. On 27th February 1953, the Society became
independent and its name was changed to the Great Yarmouth and District
Archaeological Society. At the Annual General Meeting on 15th May 2009, it was
decided to change the Society’s name to the Great Yarmouth Local History and
Archaeological Society in order to reflect members’ changing interests.

The aims of the Society are: to encourage the study of history and archaeology,
especially in the Great Yarmouth district; and to secure the preservation and
conservation of historic buildings and monuments within the town and district.

Its activities include lectures in the Northgate Room, Central Library, Tolhouse
Street, Great Yarmouth, at 7.30pm, on the third Friday of each month, January to May
and September to December. The lectures are on local and national, historical and
archaeological topics.

At least two excursions are organised each summer, including a coach trip to a place
of interest in East Anglia, and an evening visit to a village or a site.

The Society’s journal is a compilation of articles, written mostly by local people on

mainly local historical and archaeological topics, and is published each autumn.

The Society produces a quarterly newsletter, giving news, articles and notices of
events, which is sent out by email or post.

The Society also erects blue plaques around the district to commemorate buildings
people or events of local interest.

3
 The Committee of the Great Yarmouth Local History
and Archaeological Society
2013-2014

President: Andrew Fakes

Chairman: Paul Davies
Vice Chairman and Secretary: Margaret Gooch
Treasurer: Derek Leak
Committee Members: Carl Boult, Patricia Day, Ann Dunning, Alan Hunt, Peter
Jones, David McDermott, John Smail, James Steward, Michael Wadsworth
and Patricia Wills-Jones

Monographs Published by the Society

Monograph One:
Excerpt from the Sailor’s Home Logbook 1861 to 1864

Monograph Two:
Record of the Surviving and Legible Memorial Slabs in
St. Nicholas’ Church, Great Yarmouth at the Commencement of the
Restoration Work: 2nd June 1957

Monograph Three:
Little Yarmouth

Monograph Four:
Homocea: YH 573: A Diary of the
Autumn Herring Fishing Season: 1908

Monograph Five:
Photographs of Great Yarmouth taken between 1942 and 1944

Monograph Six:
Plaques in and around Great Yarmouth and Gorleston

Monograph Seven:
Window Display par excellence
The work of Philip Musgrave-Gray of Palmer’s Department Store,
Great Yarmouth in the 1930s

4
 A Snapshot

Of

Great Yarmouth

150 years

Ago
Compiled by
Paul P. Davies

Advertisements from the

Yarmouth Independent of 1863
The Eighth Monograph produced by the
Great Yarmouth Local History and Archaeological Society

5
 Preface
Peter Jones lent his copy of the Great Yarmouth Independent Almanac of 1863 to the
society. Through this almanac, a picture of Great Yarmouth 150 years ago, is brought
to life. Some of the evocative advertisements that this document contained are
printed in this book. Added to these, are advertisements gleaned form the Yarmouth
Independent itself, throughout 1863. Advertisements such as these tell a story about
the area and the people who lived in it.

Some of the events, which took place in Great Yarmouth in 1863 include: a prize
fight, which took place on Acle Marshes. The marriage of the Prince of Wales was
celebrated with various events with the Norfolk Artillery firing a 21-gun salute from
the South Battery. The East Norfolk Militia mustered 780 men for their annual
training, while the Norfolk Artillery Militia mustered 600. The Norfolk Agricultural
Society held its annual show for the first time in Great Yarmouth in the Militia
Barrack Square. The new Assembly Rooms were a great attraction. Two men were
killed in the Water Frolic, when a hatch from a wherry fell on them. The Channel
Fleet of nine warships, including HMS Warrior, anchored in the Roads. Alterations
were carried out to the Royal Naval Hospital. On October 7th, the market was glutted
with fish and consequently, prices were low. The Bishop of Norwich confirmed 180
young people in St. Nicholas’ Church. Several thousand fish were dispatched by
steamship to Italy. On Sunday 28th October, 300 lasts of herring were landed on the
quay causing complaints for working on the Lord’s Day. The lifeboat, the Friend of
All Nations was launched. The Great Yarmouth Gas Bill to incorporate the company
and make further provision for lighting the town was passed by Parliament. Charles
Marsh, an acrobat, lost his footing on top of the Norfolk Pillar, fell and was killed.
Work started on building the new Baptist church. Three thousand pounds was
borrowed to extend Marine Parade southwards. A great gale sank several fishing
boats and 145 men were drowned, leaving 73 widows and 110 orphans. The Great
Yarmouth Building Society was established. The Art and Navigation School was
founded on South Quay and the Grammar School was re-established in Trafalgar
Road.

Meanwhile, ordinary life went on in the town. Retail was very active. Crinolines,
bonnets, top hats, etc were sold. Technological change brought about gas fittings and
photographs for sale. Schools were much in evidence. There were 71 schools, of
various type, listed in the 1863 town directory. Boats were on sale, auctions were
held every week, steamers sailed all over the world. Goods were on sale privately
and employers advertised for workers. Some of the advertisements demonstrate the
social divide in Great Yarmouth society.

Advertisements are a neglected field of research and give us an insight and a flavour
to Great Yarmouth 150 years ago.

Paul Davies

6
retail

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dentists

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events

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FISHERIES

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school

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Publications
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RAILWAY

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For sale

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SHIPPING

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miscellaneous

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