Yarmouth has always played a part in my life and been the centre of much family history research. Family on both sides came from Yarmouth so it has been interesting learning about the history of the place.
I am sure I was brought there as a baby but of course have no memory of that. In fact it's difficult to say how old I was when my first memories came to the fore. It may have been about the age of four (that's four not fore).
I remember going there regularly with my parents but have no real memory of being on the beach. I do remember long walks from the Yarmouth Vauxhall rail station to the front and long walks along the front to the pleasure beach. Again I don't remember going on any of the rides there but do remember the, now old fashioned, slot machines. These were reprised a few years ago when you had to purchase old pennies (remember them) with today's cash and they cost a lot more than a penny I can tell you. It was just for fun as you couldn't win anything. I particular remember the machines that looked like pinballs but had a traffic light display. As the ball bearings, which you fired with a pinball style action, hit the sensors the lights changed. If at the end of the ball the lights were on green you won a packet of sweets (Spangles or love hearts etc). If they ended on red or amber you lost. Then there were the other machines which had marked amounts of money in compartments. The ball went round and round and always seemed to end up in one of the two "lost" slots (I wonder why that was).
I do remember one day on the beach though. I went in for a paddle on my own. For some reason I have an early picture of myself at Yarmouth wearing what could only be described as a small girls flouncy bathing costume (that could have scarred me for life). On this occasion there was a family quite far out to sea and they shouted for me to join them. I ran towards them, slipped and found the seabed dipped quite alarmingly. The result was I floundered about and have a horrible memory of taking in sea water. That incident is probably responsible for my fear of water that went on for many years until I learnt to swim at the age of 40!
I have photos of myself on the Victorian waterways in little paddle boats. I was very sad when this lovely amenity was left to fall apart for many years. Now it's up and running again (or it will be when it's safe to do so) and I can't wait for the chance to take the grandchildren.
Another sadness (and this a modern one) is the state of the legendary Winter Gardens on the front. I have written about this huge glass structure before. It is a beautiful example of architecture at its finest and most original. Sadly it has been deteriorating for many years. I can remember when it was an ice rink and a beer hall and much more. This should be a focal point of the seaside front and not something left to deteriorate until it becomes so dangerous that it has to be pulled down. Thankfully it looks as if steps are currently being taken to regenerate the building which was originally built for Torquay and then dismantled and removed brick by brick (sorry pane by pane) to be re-assembled in Yarmouth. Despite the length of the journey not a single pane of glass was damaged.
Today it is the last surviving Victorian cast iron and glass winter gardens and must be saved for future generations to enjoy.
Joyland has been a favourite of our family for well over 60 years. The famous snails have figured large in our lives. I went on them with my mother as a small boy. Then we took our sons on them and now our grandchildren. Everyone loves the hustle and bustle of Joyland (except those who don't like hustle and bustle). I particularly remember taking grandson Elliot on one of the rides. First time we went on I will never forget his face. A little train wound its way upwards, went along the top in the open air slowly as we waved to the people below. Then it plunged downwards at speed in the dark. It was such a surprise. He screamed and the bad news is the ride involves going round twice. Now it's the first thing he wants to go on.
Other memories of Yarmouth - the circus at the hippodrome (all noise and fun), wonderful chips on the market and, in my youth, tripe and chips and Jellied Eels (something of an acquired taste), eating in many of the cafes and tea rooms, the pleasure beach, candy floss, toffee apples, amusement arcades, live shows on the Britannia Pier, the model village and much much more.
I mentioned above that most of my memories started with a train arrival at Yarmouth Vauxhall station after a journey that took it from Norwich and then along Breydon Water. There used to be a station on the sea front but for some reason that was closed and visitors were made to take that extra walk. The same thing happened in Norwich. City Station was at the top of St. Stephen's and close to the city centre whereas Thorpe Station is a good threequarters of a mile away. Hethersett Station was likewise a good mile away from the centre of the village.
That walk in Yarmouth through the market place and down Regent Road was full of anticipation about the day ahead. I can remember the crowded trains and a few years ago I saw an old photo of people queuing at Norwich Thorpe Station. The queue stretched outside the station and some considerable distance. I also remember the large number of people on Yarmouth Station all trying to cram onto trains going back to Norwich. Later when we got a car (a Volkswagen Beetle) we drove down although my father would never go down the A47 Acle straight as he considered it too stressful and dangerous. Today if I'm driving to Yarmouth I tend to go the backway as well but only because it's a much more pleasant drive. Filby in particular is well worth driving through in the summer when it has a floral display that seems to go on forever and which is very colourful.
But my favourite memory of Yarmouth and one that still makes me laugh came a few years ago when Poppy was about two years of age. We were playing on the beach and there was a very interesting display of vintage cars and Harley Davidson motorbikes along the promenade.
At that time Poppy had been used to drinking out of a Tommee Tippee cup with a lid and spout. On this occasion we felt it was time she drank out of a "big girl cup" with no lid. So we gave her a new plastic cup without a lid. She proceeded to tip the cup to her mouth and chucked most of it onto her face. The look of total astonishment that went across her face was a wonder to behold.
So having given an entire blog to a few memories of Yarmouth, I thought you might like a slight change with my latest photos of Norwich. I always try to find some new areas and different angles and I hope you feel I have achieved this. There are also lots of other straightforward photos of places I have taken many many times. I try to get a slightly different angle on these and no two days brings the same weather and light.