National Provincial Bank of England, Quay—draw on London Joint Stock Bank.
Public Establishments.
Custom House, South quay. Inland Revenue office, Hall square. County Court office, Regent street. Yarmouth Military Lunatic Asylum, South denes. Royal Hospital, Chapel Mount. Fisherman’s Almhouses, Church street. Stamp Office, Regent street. Gas Works, South quay. Town Hall, South quay. Haven and Pier office, South quay. Armory, Southtown. Ballast office, South quay. Borough Gaol and Bridewell, Gaol street. Commercial Club House and Corn Exchange, quay. Met. Farm office, quay. Corn Meter’s office, quay. Port Dues office, quay. Police office, Town hall. Trinity store department, South quay. Workhouse, North end. Commercial Reading Rooms, King street. Private Subscription Reading and Billiard Rooms, King street. Public Library, South quay. Young Men’s Institute, Hall quay. Bible and Tract Society Depôt, 72, Hall square. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Depôt, Regent street.
Places of Worship.
St. Nicholas’ Church, Rev. G. Hills, M.A. St. Peter’s Church, Rev. B. Vaux, M.A., incumbent. St. George’s Chapel of Ease, Rev. M. Waters. St. Andrew’s Church, Gorleston, Rev. F. Upjohn, rector. St. Mary’s Church, Southtown, Rev. F. Salt, vicar. Baptist Chapel (General), 85 Row. Baptist (Particular), 15 Row. Catholic Chapel, Regent road. Friends’ Meeting House, 60 Row. Independent Chapel, Gaol street. Independent Chapel, King street. Independent Chapel, Gorleston. Jews’ Synagogue, 42 Row. Lady Huntingdon’s, Market-gates. Mariner’s Chapel, South quay. Methodist’s New Connexion Chapel, King street. Primitive Methodist Chapel, Priory lane. Primitive Methodist Chapel, Southtown. Unitarian Chapel, Gaol street. Wesley an Chapel, Regent road. Wesleyan Chapel, Gorleston.
LOWESTOFT.
Lowestoft is a market town, sea-port, railway station, packet station, and the seat of an extensive fishery, 136¾ miles from London, 9 S. of Yarmouth, 23¼ S.E. of Norwich, and 10 E. of Beccles. It stands upon the most easterly point of land in England, on a lofty eminence, commanding an extensive view of the German Ocean. The principal street is about a mile in length; it is well paved, and lighted with gas. The declivity of the cliff is unperceived through hanging gardens, or terraces covered with plantations, and between these and the sea is a tract of land, locally denominated the Denes, on which is an extensive line of buildings, appropriated to the curing of fish.
Lowestoft is much frequented as a sea-bathing place, having bathing machines, warm baths, and the shore being composed of a hard, firm sand, intermixed with shingle. There is a theatre, an assembly room, a public library, a mechanics’ institute, and gas works. The Mutford and Lothingland General Dispensary and Infirmary is in Lowestoft. The market is on Wednesday; and annual fairs are held on May 13th and October 11th, for small wares. The chief source of commerce is the herring fishery, which begins about a fortnight before Michaelmas, and lasts till Martinmas. Before the commencement of the herring season, many of the fishermen are employed in the mackarel fishery. The manufactures consist of rope, twine, oilcake, sail-making, boat-building, and ship-building; and there are oil and flour mills. This town being part of the ancient demesne of the Crown, the inhabitants are exempted from serving on juries, either at the assizes or sessions. Petty sessions are held every Monday at the Crown Inn, every alternate quarter.
The church, dedicated to St. Margaret, is situated westward of the town, which is much admired for its antiquity and beauty. The height of the tower, including that of the steeple, is 145 feet. The living, a vicarage, valued at £350 per annum, is in the patronage of the Bishop of Norwich, and incumbency of the Rev. Francis Cunningham, M.A., vicar. A chapel of ease, dedicated to St. Peter, was built near the old market a few years back, partly by subscription, the sale of pews, and assisted by the Society for Building and Enlarging Churches. St. John’s school-room (licensed by the Bishop for divine service) stands on the south side of the harbour. The church of St. John, erected in 1854–5–6, is a handsome structure, opened in 1856, which stands near the Royal Hotel. Here are two foundation schools, Annott’s and Wilde’s; a British school, a free school, and an infant school; and Sunday schools belonging to the church establishment, and every denomination of Dissenters, with chapels. There are a vast number of ancient charities here, and one established a few years since—namely, six almshouses, built for six of the poorest master fishermen of Lowestoft, and who partake of the charities alluded to above.
The Eastern Counties’ Railway Company have a handsome station here, close to the harbour. The progress of this place, since the formation of the harbour, has been very rapid; from a dull fishing station, it has become a thriving little town. Its advantages as a packet station have induced the formation of the Northern Steam Packet Company, for the communication with Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. The harbour is formed by two piers, one on the north, 430 yards in length—that on the south, 400 yards; at the centre of the extremity of each pier is a lighthouse, showing a red light, from sunset to sunrise. The south pier is defended by a parapet, and boarded for a promenade. Both piers are formed by massive timbers, braced together longitudinally, and filled with blocks of stone; the outer surface is faced with dressed masonry. The inner harbour consists of a piece of water, two miles in length, which communicates with the river Waveney, by which merchandise can be conveyed to Beccles and Norwich, of which Lowestoft is the outport. Lowestoft is now an independent port, and a custom-house has been established. To the coasting trade as a harbour of refuge it has been of the greatest benefit; many lives and much property have been saved which otherwise would have been swallowed up in the waters of the German Ocean. Contiguous to the harbour and railway a new town is springing up. The Royal Hotel is quite metropolitan in its size and apartments; the Esplanade and the Marine Parade, are fitted for families of distinction; many houses are retained by county families for summer occupation. The Esplanade and the south pier, which it joins, form a promenade unequalled in extent and beauty on the eastern coast. On a point of land, a little to the north of the town, is the upper lighthouse, a circular tower, erected in 1676, and partly rebuilt by order of the Brethren of the Trinity-house in 1778; and on which is a frame of wood which can be removed at pleasure to meet the changes which are continually occurring in the situation of the sands.