GORLESTON-ON-SEA THE GENTEEL RESORT

NOW "NORFOLK'S BEST KEPT SECRET"

                                                            

This was Gorleston in around the first quarter of the 19th century when it was basically a fishing and agricultural community with a small number of well to do "guests" coming to "take the waters", staying in rather basic lodgings.    Note Nelson's monument had been built a short while before and some houses are visible on Cliff Hill.   The river bank is unmade and the riverside area is marsh with the sea at liberty to invade this area at will.  There are quite a number of ships laying offshore and the fort on the east side of the river still stands opposite the bend.   The scene is from what is now the Cliff Hotel area and had changed little for hundreds of years.

                                                    

Moving forward to 1887 we see the rudimentary sea defences of the time that enabled the beach to increase and eventually cover the groynes making what became known as the "little beach" or "children's corner".  
Gorleston was now on the verge of becoming one of the east coast's most popular resorts helped by the new bank holidays, the railway which arrived in Gorleston in 1903 and the annual holiday breaks which brought visitors by the trainload.

                      THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY - A TIME FOR GROWTH

HOLIDAY MAKERS ACCOMMODATION

The early days of the 20th century and the bathing machines and changing tents have arrived together with the new Pier Hotel, pictured right.   Completed in 1897 to provide quality accommodation with a restaurant, having replaced the old Anchor and Hope fishermen's pub.  It stands proudly over looking the little beach and the ever increasing throng it attracts.
Centre is the onetime jewel in Gorleston's crown, the Cliff Hotel.   Magnificent in design and its dominance of the cliff top.  Built in 1898 but unfortunately destroyed by fire on a wild, windy Boxing  Day in 1915 
The Gables Hotel built by William Ballard Cockrill as a business and his home.   A magnificent building complemented by the adjacent not shown terrace of six houses.
As well as the hotels there were numerous boarding houses and many private houses that took in visitors, some inhabitants of the latter sleeping in garden sheds so they could let every bedroom.   Householders who took in  visitors mostly provided bed and breakfast or apartments, which meant the visitors would provide their own food that the landlady  cooked  for them.    Some just provided bedrooms to sleep the overflow from small boarding houses, the guests taking all their meals at the boarding house.   This provided a much needed boost to the income of the poorer householders and also provided cheap accommodation for the less well off visitors.   In the peak of the season there would often be more holiday makers arriving than there was accommodation and no vacancy signs would be displayed in almost every window.   It was said the population of the town doubled during the August Bank holiday.

ENTERTAINMENT

Left the  Pavilion Theatre in 1901 to provide entertainment for holiday makers especially in wet weather.   It also had a reading room.   Many famous names of the time appeared here, including Bill Pertwee and Elsie and Doris Waters.   In the early days it also gave film shows.   It is still used as a theatre and is a Grade II Listed Building.
Centre are the Clay's concert party, Henry Clay centre, who provided entertainment for many years at Gorleston.   Know as the "Pop's", residents would look forward to their arrival each season when they gave their shows on the area on Beach Road still known as "Pop's Meadow" but now a children's playground.
Right is one of the several bandstands built on this site over the years.   Popular for the concerts given by visiting silver and brass bands.   The Pier Hotel is in the background.

Left is Gorleston's first cinema, originally called "Filmland" and built at the north end of Beach Road in 1913.  It had a variety of other names before closing and finally being destroyed by bombing in 1940 when Gorleston suffered its first casualty.
Centre is the Coliseum cinema built in the High Street, also in 1913 shortly after Filmland.   Many will remember children's Saturday morning matinees and free Christmas shows when the owner Mr. Atree and later his son dressed as Father Christmas, or the queues when the doorman let small groups in as others came out.    Most went into the cinema on arrival even if in the middle of the film and saw it round to that part again - seems very strange now!
Far right is the same cinema after being modernised.   Note that despite the larger foyer there will still shops below the front.

HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME AT GORLESTON-ON-SEA

The pleasures were simple with the beach the main attraction and much for the family to do.   The bathing huts provided a measure of modesty.   Pulled into the sea by a horse, the occupants would in the early days indulge in taking to the waters without clothing.   Then cotton bathing suits became the vogue which when wet left little to the imagination.   This was followed by voluminous attire for the ladies.
The donkeys were a great attraction for children and they continued until the mid 20th century.
Beachmen provided trips around the bay which would be many peoples introduction to being on the water with the added attraction of  being taken by an "old salt" who no doubt often had many tales to tell.

   Some paddled with the children.        Some lounged in the cosies.                  Some paraded in style.

Many arrived by Belle steamer from London.    Many more came by special trains.   But they all before the days of everyone having telephones sent home postcards to mum and dad and friends to tell them what a good time they were having.   To take home there was always a souvenir "From Gorleston-on-Sea" to buy.

Left is one of the "Roman shelters" built on the cliffside and ornately decorated with Cockrill's ceramic style finish.   
Centre the ravine which was cut through the cliff and laid out as rock gardens with a bridge to cross over.
Right the cliff top gardens.

The five year period between 1898 and 1903 when the Borough Surveyor, J. W. Cockrill was forming our seafront saw a hive of activity in the town as our role as a seaside resort was defined more than at any other time  -  The Pier Hotel and White Lion had recently been rebuilt.  The Cliff hotel opened followed shortly by the Pavilion.   The beach gardens were laid out, Cliffside grassed, the Marine Parade was extended, the "Roman shelters" built, together with the ravine and its bridge.  The shops on the promenade were built and are still as popular today as a hundred years ago.  The railway came to town and the Station Hotel was built.  Holidaymakers streamed in and what an exciting period it was.   Other facilities such as bowling greens, tennis courts, golf club, yacht pond, swimming pool and holiday camp were added over the years until the second world war brought it all to a halt.

SOME LATER ATTRACTIONS

Left is the yacht pond built in 1926 and one of the few now left in the country.   It was recently threatened with removal but thankfully sense prevailed.
Centre is the much loved swimming pool and Floral Hall opened in 1939, alas now just a memory of needless destruction.
Far Right Gorleston Super Holiday Camp built in 1937 where the Orbit Estate now is.   Loved by many holiday makers and remembered by locals of a certain age for its roller skating rinks and Soldiers who were billeted there during the war, also the people flooded out in 1953 who were given temporary accommodation there.  

Three changing holiday brochures advertising the delights of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston-on-Sea - The resorts that have everything.
Left is 1921.  Centre 1939.   Right 1950.

AND THERE WAS MORE

Apart from the above there were of course a great number of other activities for the holiday maker to enjoy:
In the early days a trip to one of the surrounding attractive little villages and its local by horse drawn brake.   Later a little further a field to the broads or Norwich by charabang or coach.   Then of course the family car and East Anglia was your "oyster".
There were visits to Yarmouth by Tram or river boat.   Trips out to sea, to the broads or even to Scroby sandbank.
Sermons and hymn singing on the beach on Sundays.   Walks on the pier or along the riverside to watch the river activities, look at the lifeboat, fishing boats and various coasters, wherrys, barges and larger vessels.   Try your luck with rod and line.   Spend an evening in one of the locals.   Dance the night away at the Floral Hall (now the Ocean Rooms) or listen to Eddie Gates the blind organist while you enjoyed a cup of tea in the afternoon.  
As the resort grew so did Bells Road just a stones throw away from the seafront.   It was a bustling vibrant shopping area known locally as fleece street with shops of all kind to attract the visitors money.
In the 1930's half a dozen grocers and many smaller general stores kept the hotels and guest houses supplied as well as their year round customers the locals.   Yes the twin resorts certainly did have everything.       

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Start date 24th June, 2005