The Yarmouth Havens

The Bailiffs, Burgesses and occupants, petitioned King Edward III, in the 20th. year of his reign, for permission to cut out a haven nearer to Yarmouth, opposite to Corton. (Swinden quotes Manship, p.113.) This particular haven lasted for 26 years until the 46 th. year of Edward III, when it became considerably blocked up with sand and gravel, and the ships had to land their goods at Kirkley Road, near to the mouth of the haven. This certainly means that the ships could not get into the harbour, but does not indicate exactly how far south the entrance to the harbour was.

In the 16 th. year of Richard II, a petition was made to the King for a haven to be made nearer to Yarmouth, opposite to the horse ferry, which Swinden thought appeared to have been in a line from the north end of Gorleston or Southtown, over the Denes, opposite the site of the foot ferry.

In 1408, some 15 years later, in the 10 th. year of Henry IV, this haven also could not be kept open, so there was a petition for another haven, near to Newton Cross. This was then the third haven, which lasted 100 years.

There was an application to Henry VI, in the 31 st. year of his reign, and a further one to Henry VII in 1508, to cut a new mouth much nearer to the town.(fourth haven)

The fifth haven, of 1528, was made in the time of Edward IV.

The sixth haven was constructed in 1549 the third year of Edward VI's reign. This was the time of Kett's rebellion. The haven was made about 1/4 of a mile from the south gate, over the denes, the trench still being apparent in Swinden's day, and was commonly known then as the "Old Haven" (this is the one seen on the Elizabethan map).

It was agreed to cut the seventh haven some 30 years later, in 1559, there having been a very high flood indeed, in 1557, at which time boats could be rowed up and down the streets. It seems that they blamed the design of the sixth haven for this, and actually tried to block it up completely to stop the flooding. -The first Yare flood barrier! At this time whilst working on the seventh haven, the river broke it's banks at the Gorleston end, and pursued its old course towards Newton Cross. (implying that Newton Cross was still dry and not yet swept away) Stone was used for the construction out of Our Lady's churchyard, and Joyce Johnson was appointed master of works, by Henry Manship senior, a merchant, work being commenced at the beginning of March, 1566.