Nearly 100 people have joined the newly-formed Civic Society of Great Yarmouth.
And it is hoped the group’s visual logo of a burgeoning green pea pod will attract more members including young people, to help in its aims of “Preserving, Protecting, Promoting with Pride”.
Among the aims of the society are tidying up the roundabouts on the approaches to the town and litter-picking parties, as well as linking with Great Yarmouth in Bloom and being involved in the drawing up of the new town centre masterplan.
The next meeting is at 7.30pm on Tuesday, January 16 at Christchurch in King Street when historian, author and designer Paul Patterson will talk about Great Yarmouth’s Town Wall. Paul’s talk will be controversial as he has uncovered many facts not previously known and his findings will be illustrated by computer graphics. It is claimed historic Yarmouth has the second best preserved medieval town wall in England, after York. The town wall, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, traces its origins to 1261 when King Henry III granted permission to enclose the town with a wall and ditch. It took years to complete – the main work was finished in 1346 but continued until about 1400. The fortification, which was last manned during the English Civil War, was more than 23ft high and 2,280 yards long, with 10 gates and 16 towers.
Schoolchildren and college students interested in the history of the wall will have free admission and non members can join the society that evening for an annual subscription of £10, or a £3 entry fee.
The society is also looking at the possibility of “Lighting up Great Yarmouth” starting off with highlighting ancient buildings, South Quay, trees in St George’s Park and Haven Bridge.
It is hoped to develop a sense of civic pride in the town and for residents to take ownership of their streets and buildings to make it a better place to live.
The founding group of people come from across all walks of life in the town and they are keen to engage younger people in its activities to preserve and better their futures.
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