Round the Coast - Newnes 1895 - Pages



Lowestoft - The harbour and parade c1895

Lowestoft - The harbour and parade
From a Photo. by Poulton & Son

Lowestoft owes its present prosperity to Sir Samuel Peto, who, with great public spirit, built much of the town and made many improvements in the harbour. This harbour, which he purchased in 1844 and almost entirely reconstructed, is protected by two piers, with a lighthouse showing a red light all night at the end of each. The southern pier, 400yds. long, is fitted and arranged as a promenade, and adjoins a fine esplanade, nearly a mile long, from which projects an ornamental pier, with the usual accommodations for pleasure-seekers. A further attraction is the Yacht Basin, between the pier and the inner jetty, from both of which small boats may be hired and frequent steamer or sailing trips taken. When in this quarter, one should not fail to visit the 'Denes,' a sandy wilderness of miniature mountain scenery on the seashore, which is no less interesting to the geologist and naturalist than to lovers of gorse and heather. At the entrance to the north pier a new fish market was constructed, in 1865, by the indefatigable Great Eastern Railway Company. It measures 480ft. by 60ft. Here the fish are received from the boats, sold by the fish 'auctioneers,' and conveyed direct to the station. Altogether, the harbour at Lowestoft has cost about £320,000. About 210 vessels, averaging from 20 tons to 40 tons burden, are employed at Lowestoft in the herring trade. 'I shall always look upon Lowestoft,' says Mr. Clement Scott, 'as the very pink of propriety. It is certainly the cleanest, neatest, and the most orderly seaside resort at which I have ever cast anchor. There is an air of respectability at the very railway station - no confusion, no touting, no harassing, and no fuss. I do not think I ever saw so neat a place out of Holland.'