As we head into Autumn it was time for our AGM. It was well attended and completing the business side of the meeting we gave our grateful thanks to Pat who has resigned her position as secretary. After many years of service Pat has always been a firm constant and support within the MLHG, we presented Pat with flowers and vouchers. We also gave thanks to Margaret who has been our programme secretary. A huge thank you to Ann for the celebration cake which we all enjoyed with our coffee, this was followed with lots of chat between members who had the opportunity to give their ideas for outings which may be included in future programmes.
GREAT YARMOUTH WALLS & TOWERS
Our members talk on Great Yarmouth’s Wall and Towers followed given by Janet Edwards. The wall with its fifteen towers was started in 1284 following a licence from King Henry III giving the Burgesses of Yarmouth permission to enclose their town with a wall and ditch, this was by definition a means of defence during uncertain times, but it also gave the town a custom barrier to ensure that all dues were paid. It was the townsfolk who toiled to build the walls and it was due to their determination and tenacity that we still have two thirds of our medieval wall standing today. Taking over one hundred years to complete, enclosing Great Yarmouth to one hundred and thirty-three acres, and standing twenty-three feet high and a mile and a quarter in length. It was in times of fear from attack from the French and Spanish that repairs to the walls and its towers strengthened the defence of the town.
We went on to look at some of the towers which have remained largely intact. The upper parts of the walls and the tops of the towers were rebuilt at the end of the fifteenth century. Henry VIII sent the Duke of Norfolk to Yarmouth in 1545 to inspect the walls and ordered the walls to be cleared of buildings and sand blown up against the wall, repairs were carried out and made ready for a possible attack from the French. Queen Elizabeth 1st convinced of the importance of a fortified Gt. Yarmouth, placed several cannon on mounds higher than the walls. Every day four men scanned the horizon from the church tower for Spanish men-of-war until the threat passed.
Charles the 1st inspected the walls prior to the civil war. Walls repaired and a further thirty cannon were placed around the town. Yarmouth declared for Parliament and any Royalist sympathisers were locked in the towers; however, this was the last time the wall was manned. When peace came the walls with their towers were allowed to fall into decay.
Today this precious piece of history is classified as an ancient monument.
As Chair of MLHG I would like to thank my committee for their commitment throughout the year and to members for their support and of course to welcome newcomers.