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Gorleston-on-Sea in East Anglia is a North Sea port on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. The original name seems to have meant 'girl's town', but historians are unable to tell us how this came to be. Historcally it has been part of Suffolk, Today it is in Norfolk. Gorleston-on-Sea is a seaside town within the borough of Great Yarmouth locad. Itt is lovated to the south south of Great Yarmouth at the outh of the River Yare, but on the opposite side of the river. It was a port town and mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086). It was a fishing port based on herring and salt pans to produce salt used to preserve the catch. This was the basis of the economy until the fishery declined in modern times during the Edwardian era when steam-powered boats increased the pressure on the resource. With the aid of the railway joining Great Yarmouth with Lowestoft, Gorleston began to assume its modern form as a seaside resort. Here we see a Gorleston scene as the town was evolving into a beach resort, probably taken in the late-1890s (figure 1). The major assett is the a wide, crving Edwardian sandy beach attracting families because of the extensive play area for the kiddies. Facilities include a children's paddling pool--the Splashpad. It is an ocean-themed play area with fountain sprays, jet streams, and buckets of tipping water. There are also seaside gardens and model boat pond opened in 1927. This dates back to a time when British boys, mostly boys, had model sail boats and ued to love to launch hem on park ponds. At the top of the cliff area are two bowling greens and tennis courts. There is a an impressive theatre opposite the pier called the Pavilion--a clasic movie palace. As is the case of other English seaside towns, there are amusements appealing to children. Ocean Bay is next to the Pavilion. Marine Amusements are on the Lower Esplanade. Of historical importance is the medieval church of St. Andrew. Gorleston is located in a flat area near the eastern most extension of England and thus exposed to the often tempetous North Sea. During the Great Storm of 1987, Gorleston experienced the highest wind speed ever recorded in Britain -- some 122 mph. Kent is slighklt further east, but not as exposed.
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