Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Category: Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth – Lichfield Arms

The eighth pub on our list was the Lichfield Arms in Great Yarmouth, which isn’t a venue that I’ve ever heard of before. CAMRA notes that the landlord has been here for thirty years, which is an impressive stint and he’s delivered a really rather lovely community driven pub.

The pub was built here in the 1880s, originally defined as being in Gorleston, although I think it’s fair to say that this area is now considered to be part of Great Yarmouth. It was originally a Steward & Patteson pub before it became part of the Watney Mann estate, but it’s now a free house.

Initially this was just a beer house (these venues could sell beer and were often just a front room, but they couldn’t sell spirits or wines), but in 1903, the Yarmouth Independent reported:

“The next and last application was by Mr. C. J Wiltshire on behalf of Messrs. Steward and Patteson for the removal of the full license of the Little White Lion, King-street, to the Lichfield Arms beer-house, Lichfield road. This was, he said, the third time of asking, and Messrs. Steward and Patteson were prepared to surrender an off beer-house in High-street. Over 80 houses had been put up in the district since the last application, and it was greatly extending. There was a dearth of public-houses in the area, as was shown by the drink map. With respect to what had been said at previous Licensing Sessions, Mr. Bottle would be glad to know that two doctors had now gone to live in the district. (Laughter.)

William Pembroke, of the Lichfield Arms, the nominal applicant, said he had a great demand for spirits, especially since there had been so much sickness, and he had been twice called up at night lately.

Mr. S. Rivett, architect, said there were 441 houses on the Lichfield estate, and 85 had been built since 1901. The nearest full licensed house was 490 yards away.

Mr. Bottle—This application comes before us with a better grace than any other we have heard. There should be a full licensed house in a district with a population of 2,000 people. At present it hasn’t one full license.

Mr Wiltshire—The need for a full license there has been fully demonstrated.

Evidence of the service of the statutory notices in respect of this and all the applications was given by the Warrant Officer (Sergt. W. Moore).”

The request was granted by the licensing committee, as long as the High Street licence was surrendered. It was though the third time that the venue had requested this.

There was one real ale available, the Edith Cavell from Wolf Brewery and that’s not a bad one to select.

The beer was well kept, tasted as expected and was, once again, expertly food paired. For anyone interested, and I’m not sure who will be, but those crisps pack quite a mustardy punch.

There is one long bar and the decoration is traditional and comfortable. There’s a screen showing sports and although the customers were quite lively during our visit, we felt entirely welcome. The venue is all quite under-stated in a very positive way and it’s primarily wet led, although they occasionally do serve food for special events.

Those signs above the toilet doors look like they’ve been there for about forty years, but I’m all for heritage and keeping things in pubs rather than constant renovation and modernisation.

I liked this pub, it felt a welcoming venue, it’s clearly another place that’s at the heart of its community and if it was the landlord of 30 years’ standing that served us, he’s doing remarkably well to keep the pub going.

March 24, 2026
Great Yarmouth – Rumbold Arms

Our seventh pub of the day, where Jen parked the car in a bush, was the Rumbold Arms in Great Yarmouth.

The pub first opened in the 1830s and it went through a succession of brewery owners, Steward & Patteson, Watney Mann, the Unique Pub Company and then Enterprise Inns got hold of it, although it’s fortunately now a free house.

It did once have a bowling green, although it’s not clear where from the 1880s image, but there is a large space behind the pub and I assume that it was once there.

It might not have the prettiest view at the front over the road, but just down there is the very competently built bridge that my friend Liam helped put together….

This was the first pub that we visited during the day which didn’t have any real ale. The service was friendly and there was a laid back atmosphere in the venue. It’s very much a wet led venue and there are numerous events such as live music, bingo and karaoke.

But they did have Caffreys, which is a little unusual to see. It’s a quirky little stout, creamy and with a taste of coffee.

This is another of those pubs that is important to the community and it was clean and well managed. I’ve also only just realised after looking at the photos that the pub had Roast Beef Monster Munch behind the bar and I missed an opportunity there…. It’s a shame that there’s no real ale available, but variety is the spice of life and all that…

March 24, 2026
200 Years Ago in Great Yarmouth : Shakespeare Tavern for Let

In the Norwich Mercury 200 years ago this week, it was advertised that the Shakespeare Tavern in Great Yarmouth was for let.

The advert read:

“THAT Old-established PUBLIC-HOUSE, in full trade, with a newly-erected Liquor Shop in front, respectably fitted up, and most pleasantly situated at the bottom of King-street, near the Market-place, Great Yarmouth, known by the Sign of the Shakspeare Tavern. The annual expences are very small. Any person commanding about £150 can take every necessary wanted in the House, including Stock and two very excellent full-sized Billiard Tables complete.

Letters (post-paid, only) will be attended to.—
Address to S. S. the present occupier, who has lived on the premises going for three years, and is about to take another situation”

The SS referred to here was Samuel Smith, although I don’t know where he went from here. The pub had opened in around 1800, but it closed in the mid 1860s and was turned into a shop.

February 24, 2026
200 Years Ago in Great Yarmouth : King’s Arms For Sale

In my erratic series of posts from Norfolk newspapers 200 years ago this week, I noticed that the King’s Arms in Great Yarmouth was being advertised for sale in the Norwich Mercury. The text reads:

“KING’S ARMS INN,
Great Yarmouth.

To be Sold by Private Contract,

All that Old-established and well-known INN, called the KING’S ARMS INN, with 3 Cottages adjoining, situate near the North Gates, in Great Yarmouth, in Norfolk, now in the occupation of Mrs. Mayhew, with good arched Wine and Beer Cellars, extensive Yards, Stabling, Standing for Carriages, &c. &c.

The above Property has long been distinguished as being one of the best situations for an Inn in the borough of Great Yarmouth.

The Estate is all Freehold, and the only out-going is an annual Land-tax of £2.

N. B. — An excellent Weighing Machine for Hay is attached to the Premises.

For price and further particulars apply (if by letter post-paid) to Mr. Samuel Sherrington, Priory, Great Yarmouth, or Mr. Miller, Union Office, Norwich.”

I rather like that this pub is still there, although it was mostly rebuilt in the early twentieth century and then had to be repaired after extensive damage during the Second World War. To this day, the pub retains its large beer garden and I visited it a few times during the partial lockdown a few years ago.

Here’s what it looked like at the turn of the last century, the area to the left has nearly all been lost, but the area around the pub remains looking pretty similar. Mrs Mayhew, who was mentioned as the landlady in the advert, remained running the pub until 1830 and it was up for sale a couple of times in the years that followed so it’s possible that it never actually sold.

September 26, 2025
Great Yarmouth – Tourist Information Centre (and Sailors’ Home)

[I originally posted this in August 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

This building isn’t of historic interest just because it’s a tourist information centre (although I’m sure it is a lovely little service for visitors to the town), but because it was the Sailors’ Home from 1861 until 1965. During the time which it was open it looked after over 11,000 shipwrecked sailors from 29 different countries. I’m sure that I remember this building being used as a Maritime Museum for a while in the 1980s.

There doesn’t seem to be any specific connection with this building and HMS Lutine, other than it sailed from Great Yarmouth in 1799. The boat was carrying today’s equivalent of £100 million of bullion and coin and it sank, which must have irritated its owners. Although not overly irritated them as they had the sense to insure it, so Lloyds of London paid out for the losses. Lloyds have since salvaged some of the gold, although much is still underwater, and they also got back the ship’s bell. This bell, the Lutine Bell, is now pride of place in the Head Office of Lloyds in London. Although it occurs to me that if I sent a salvage crew to collect my gold I’d rather they returned with that rather than the bloody ship’s bell.

September 14, 2025
Great Yarmouth – St. Mary’s Catholic Church

[I posted this in August 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

I’ve walked by this church on Regent Road hundreds of times over the years, but never actually gone in it. The church opened in 1850 after three years of construction, replacing a small chapel which couldn’t cater for the growing congregation. At the time this was the only building on Regent Road and it now looks a little out of place with the mainly tourist orientated shops and restaurants that are on the street today.

The church was designed by Joseph John Scoles, who also designed St. Peter’s Church in the town. It was built for the Jesuits, although was taken over by the Diocese of East Anglia in the mid-twentieth century. When the church opened it had a congregation of over 800 people, showing why the previous building had been of an inadequate size.

The font is from the 1850s and was also designed by Scoles.

There are numerous of these painted artworks around the church and there are information sheets (well, pieces of paper stuck to the wall) which give information as to what they represent. The information sheets are though useful and give a little bit more context about the building’s history.

The impressive interior, which is relatively unchanged since the church was built, with some interesting roof decorations. There are over 800 carved roof bosses in the church and there are a few of the original mid-nineteenth century pews remaining in situ.

The pulpit was apparently designed by Pugin, although there seems some doubt on this, and it was installed under the supervision of George Myers.

The stained glass window, which I think is from the mid-nineteenth century.

The organ dates from the late nineteenth century and has 1,032 pipes.

I had wondered why there were numerous CCTV signs and warnings of alarms, but assumed it was a general security measure. Unfortunately though it now makes sense, as some yob tried to set the church on fire earlier on in 2018. Fortunately the damage wasn’t too severe and the idiot was caught and charged with committing hate crimes.

It’s a peaceful and quiet environment in the church, in contrast to the rather busy and noise shopping street outside. I can’t imagine this church when it was located on a little quiet road which led to the beach, but I’m pleased that it has survived intact.

September 14, 2025
Great Yarmouth – St. Spyridon Church (St. Peter’s Church)

[I originally posted this in September 2018, but have reposted it to fix the broken image links]

It has to be noted that the state of Anglican churches in Great Yarmouth isn’t what it was, with perhaps most of the energies in recent decades going into the Minster. This church was opened in 1831 as St. Peter’s Church, designed by JJ Scoles, who also designed the nearby St. Mary’s Church.

The church fell into disuse in the 1960s and it was given to the Greek community to use as an Orthodox church. It was fortunate for the building that a new use was found, as this was at a time when churches were often demolished if they had become redundant.

The building is currently being repaired and the process has been on-going for several years. English Heritage have helped with the funding, but it has also been a major financial challenge for the local congregation to raise money themselves to put towards the project. The first part of the work involved repairing the tower, which had become a danger given that bits were falling off of it, never an ideal situation…..

September 14, 2025
Great Yarmouth – St. John’s Church

[I originally posted this in August 2018, but I’ve reposted it to fix the broken image links]

A short way from the busy seafront is this closed and redundant church, looking a little sad. Its future is though more positive, as it was sold to the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust in 2016 for £1 and the organisation has plans to restore the building and use it for the community. The funds aren’t currently in place to complete the project, but the Trust seems hopeful that they can be secured.

A rather charming tree in the churchyard.

Sadly, at the moment the entire church is fenced off. The church had first opened in 1858 when it was opened by the Beach and Harbour Mission. During the Victorian period the church was primarily used by the local beachmen, sailors and their families.

The church’s former chapter house. The building was built by John Henry Hakewill, who designed and restored many churches during the mid-Victorian period.

The Trust is restoring and preserving seven documents which were found in the church, including an impressive baptism roll. It’s delightful that these documents have been secured for the future, as without the Trust’s intervention there must have been the risk that the church would have been turned into flats and the contents lost for ever. The kneeler cushions, which had been left unused for years, were also kept and there are plans to repair and preserve them.

The restoration of the church appears to be in good hands, and the Trust said to the local media that the repairs would be sensitive and that the interior wouldn’t be reconstructed. Hopefully in a few years this building will once again be used by the community, and I can then have a little look inside.

September 14, 2025
200 Years Ago in Norwich : Joseph Christmas Died at Port-au-Prince

In a newspaper article in the Norwich Mercury from 200 years ago this week, it’s mentioned that the death of Joseph Christmas, aged 17, was confirmed. The news had come from Port-au-Prince, which is today one of the most dangerous cities in the world and nearly entirely controlled by gangs. This likely wasn’t his destination, he was on a merchant ship where he died during the travels.

Joseph Harmer Christmas was born on 19 May 1809 in Great Yarmouth and was baptised the following day, which seems to be rather efficient. He was the son of John and Honor Harmer Christmas and here’s the will of John. On the surname, it’s relatively rare and its origins are unclear although there’s more on a Wikipedia page about the matter. What intrigues me more is what the 16 year old (the newspaper article got his age wrong) was doing off in the then British West Indies, his family didn’t appear to be wealthy enough to be involved in owning plantations, although they did seem reasonably well connected. Yet another mystery that maybe one day I’ll be able to solve to my complete satisfaction….

August 11, 2025
200 Years Ago in Great Yarmouth : Funding a New Church (St. Mary’s Church in Southtown)

The below article is from the Norwich Mercury 200 years ago this week and it notes those people who donated money towards the construction of a new church. This was a little rare for the time in terms of the Anglican Church, although it was to become much more common later on during the nineteenth century. The money was being collected to fund what became St. Mary’s Church in Southtown, which opened in 1831. I rather like that it’s still there, as it seems to be a little sad that so many people donated for a project which ultimately didn’t survive in the long-term. The article is also an interesting list of the generous nature of various people and institutions of the time.

“Subscriptions:

The Corporation of Great Yarmouth: £500 0s. 0d.
The Hon. G. Anson, M.P.: £100 0s. 0d.
C. E. Rumbold, Esq. M.P.: £100 0s. 0d.
Lord Viscount Siduey: £50 0s. 0d.
Aldred Mr. S. H.: £2 2s. 0d.
Atkinson Mr. J.: £2 0s. 0d.
Baker Rev. T.: £20 0s. 0d.
Baldry Miss: £1 0s. 0d.
Barchard Mr.: £1 0s. 0d.
Barmby Mr. W. H.: £5 0s. 0d.
Barber Mr.: £0 5s. 0d.
Beckett Mr. John: £1 0s. 0d.
Beckett Mr. G. W.: £1 0s. 0d.
Bell J. M. Esq.: £10 0s. 0d.
Blomfield Mr.: £1 0s. 0d.
Blomfield Mr. H.: £2 0s. 0d.
Bolton Mr. G.: £2 0s. 0d.
Bracey Mr. John: £1 0s. 0d.
Brand Mr. W.: £1 0s. 0d.
Breeze Mr. Jas.: £1 0s. 0d.
Broadbank Mrs.: £10 0s. 0d.
Brown Mr. John: £1 0s. 0d.
Bunn Mr. James: £10 0s. 0d.
Burton C. F. Esq.: £20 0s. 0d.
Burton T. Esq.: £10 0s. 0d.
Burton Mr. S.: £10 0s. 0d.
Chambers Mr. W.: £5 0s. 0d.
Child Mr. John: £0 2s. 6d.
Christmas Mr. J.: £5 0s. 0d.
Christmas Mr. S.: £2 0s. 0d.
Clark Mr. Jas.: £50 0s. 0d.
Clarke Mr. F.: £10 0s. 0d.
Clowes Mr. T.: £2 0s. 0d.
Cole Mr. R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Cory R. Jun. Esq.: £21 0s. 0d.
Costerton C. Esq.: £15 0s. 0d.
Cox Miss: £1 0s. 0d.
Cracknell Mrs.: £1 0s. 0d.
Crisp Mr. F.: £1 0s. 0d.
Crovitlier Mr. S.: £5 0s. 0d.
Cubitt Mr. R.: £5 0s. 0d.
Diver Mr. W. H.: £2 0s. 0d.
Diver Mr. R.: £2 0s. 0d.
Docking Mr. G.: £1 0s. 0d.
Douglas Mr. T.: £1 0s. 0d.
Dowson B. Esq.: £21 0s. 0d.
Drake Mr. Jas.: £1 0s. 0d.
Draper Mr. J. sen.: £10 0s. 0d.
Draper Mr. J. jun.: £0 10s. 0d.
Duncan Mr. A.: £0 10s. 0d.
Ellis Mr. C. T.: £2 2s. 0d.
English Mrs.: £2 0s. 0d.
Fear Mr. John: £10 0s. 0d.
Ferrier Mr. R.: £10 0s. 0d.
Fielding B. Esq.: £21 0s. 0d.
Fiddis Mr. T.: £10 0s. 0d.
Fisher W. Esq.: £50 0s. 0d.
Fisher Jas Esq.: £25 0s. 0d.
Fisher J. G. Esq.: £25 0s. 0d.
Fisher Mr. T.: £2 0s. 0d.
Friend, by Mr. Glasspoole: £5 5s. 0d.
Friend at the Bath House: £1 0s. 0d.
Gamble Mr. Win.: £1 0s. 0d.
Garwood Mr. T.: £5 0s. 0d.
Gill Mr. W.: £1 0s. 0d.
Giles Mr. Charles: £1 0s. 0d.
Glasspoole Mr. H.: £10 10s. 0d.
Gooding Mr. J.: £1 10s. 0d.
Gourlay Mr. D.: £1 0s. 0d.
Green Mr. J.: £1 0s. 0d.
Greenwood Mr. E.: £1 0s. 0d.
Groome Mr. E.: £1 0s. 0d.
Grout, Baylis and Co.: £20 0s. 0d.
Gunthorpe Matthew, Esq.: £50 0s. 0d.
Hallmark Mrs.: £50 0s. 0d.
Hamment Mr. R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Harmant Mr. Jes.: £10 0s. 0d.
Harley Mr. Geo.: £0 10s. 0d.
Hart Mr. Wm.: £0 10s. 0d.
Haynes Mr. Wm.: £1 0s. 0d.
Hook Mr. Dan.: £10 0s. 0d.
Hume Mr. Wm.: £0 5s. 0d.
Hunt Mr. A.: £1 0s. 0d.
Jefferies Capt.: £5 0s. 0d.
Johnson Mr. C.: £5 0s. 0d.
Johnson Mr. J.: £1 0s. 0d.
Johnson Mr. Wm. J.: £1 0s. 0d.
Kenworthy Mr. J.: £1 0s. 0d.
Kelly Rev. S.: £5 0s. 0d.
Lacon, Youell, and Co.: £100 0s. 0d.
Lahy Mr. James: £1 0s. 0d.
Lane Mr. J.: £0 10s. 0d.
Libbis Mr. R.: £0 7s. 0d.
Lott Mr. J. H.: £1 0s. 0d.
Lubbock Mr. R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Lubbock Mr. C.: £1 0s. 0d.
Lucas Rev. G.: £15 0s. 0d.
Luson Miss: £1 0s. 0d.
Mann Mr. R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Mackland Mr. E.: £5 0s. 0d.
Mason Mr. J.: £2 0s. 0d.
Meggy Mr. Wm.: £1 0s. 0d.
Meyrick Mr. Wm.: £1 0s. 0d.
Minter Mr. John: £2 0s. 0d.
Miller Mr. Wm.: £1 0s. 0d.
Miller Mr. Step.: £2 0s. 0d.
Moore Mr. P.: £1 0s. 0d.
Moon Mr. S.: £2 0s. 0d.
Morgan Mr. E. W.: £10 0s. 0d.
Moxon Mr. John: £5 0s. 0d.
Moyse Mrs. Jane: £10 0s. 0d.
Nicholls Mr. C.: £10 0s. 0d.
Nolloth Mr. Jas.: £1 0s. 0d.
Norman Mr. Jas.: £2 0s. 0d.
Nuthall Mr. P.: £2 0s. 0d.
Offord Mr. D.: £1 0s. 0d.
Paget S. Esq.: £25 0s. 0d.
Palmer W. D. Esq.: £100 0s. 0d.
Palmer G. D. Esq.: £21 0s. 0d.
Palgrave W. E. Q.: £21 0s. 0d.
Pope Mr. J.: £1 0s. 0d.
Poppy Mr. J.: £0 10s. 0d.
Powell Mr. J.: £0 5s. 0d.
Preston J. Esq.: £20 0s. 0d.
Preston I. Esq.: £25 0s. 0d.
Preston E. Esq.: £25 0s. 0d.
Preston J. Esq.: £10 0s. 0d.
Preston Mr. J. K.: £3 3s. 0d.
Preston Mr. A.: £3 0s. 0d.
Preston Mr. G.: £2 0s. 0d.
Pulford Mr. G.: £2 0s. 0d.
Ranney J. Esq.: £15 15s. 0d.
Reeve Mr. W.: £1 0s. 0d.
Reynolds F. R. Esq.: £50 0s. 0d.
Robinson J. J. Esq.: £10 0s. 0d.
Roe Mr. T.: £2 2s. 0d.
Ruzby Mrs.: £1 0s. 0d.
Saunders Mr. W.: £25 0s. 0d.
Sayers and Son: £20 0s. 0d.
Seaman Mr. F.: £2 0s. 0d.
Searum Mr. R.: £1 1s. 0d.
Sharman Mr. E.: £10 0s. 0d.
Sherrington Mr. S.: £10 0s. 0d.
Short Mr. J.: £1 0s. 0d.
Shreeve Mr. H.: £2 0s. 0d.
Sloman Mr. Chas.: £1 0s. 0d.
Smith Mr. R. C.: £1 0s. 0d.
Smith Mr. J.: £2 2s. 0d.
Smith Mr. R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Springall Mr. T.: £0 10s. 0d.
Steele Miss: £0 5s. 0d.
Stevenson Mr. J.: £5 0s. 0d.
Sutton Mr. S.: £0 10s. 0d.
Swirles Mr. D.: £1 0s. 0d.
Thacker Mrs.: £0 10s. 0d.
Thompson Mrs.: £5 5s. 0d.
Thompson E. Esq.: £20 0s. 0d.
Thrower Mr. A.: £1 0s. 0d.
Toluer & Preston: £25 0s. 0d.
Townshend Mr. R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Turner Rev. R.: £50 0s. 0d.
Turner D. Esq.: £25 0s. 0d.
Turner Mrs. M.: £0 10s. 0d.
Veal Mr. R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Vardon Mr. John: £0 5s. 0d.
Warren Mr.: £1 0s. 0d.
Watling Mr. F.: £3 3s. 0d.
Watson J. Esq.: £20 0s. 0d.
Watson Mr. T.: £5 5s. 0d.
Watson R.: £1 0s. 0d.
Williams J. H. Esq.: £25 0s. 0d.
Wright Mr. E.: £1 0s. 0d.
Yette Win. Esq.: £20 0s. 0d.
Youngman Mr. T.: £1 0s. 0d.

And a Site of Ground on which to erect a Building, Subscriptions are received at the Town Hall, the Banks, the Subscription-Room, and at the Bath Rooms, in this Town.

And here it is in the 1880s.

July 17, 2025