Barrel trail will map out Yarmouth’s heritage

Pupils from St George's Primary School in Great Yarmouth at the Time and Tide Museum with their barrel design which forms part of the Herring Barrel trail across the town centre.Osvaldo, Leonor and Melanie with the barrel and trail map.Picture: James Bass (Image: (C) Archant Norfolk 2016)

Pupils from 12 schools in the area painted the herring barrels, made at Great Yarmouth Potteries, while learning about the town's heritage and bygone days.

And now the works of art will be placed at sites around the town, and maps are being produced so people can see how many they can spot.

Melodie Fearns, headteacher at St George's Primary School, said the initiative had been possible thanks to a grant from Historic England, through their Heritage Schools programme.

She said: 'It's to try to get children to connect with their local heritage.

Karen Childs from the Great Yarmouth Potteries with one of the painted pottery barrels made and decorated by children from schools around the borough. The project forms a heritage trail around many landmark buildings around the town.Picture: James Bass (Image: Archant Norfolk © 2016)

'There will be 26 barrels at sites, buildings and places around Great Yarmouth, and we're having 10,000 maps printed so you can follow the trail.'

Karen Childs, from Great Yarmouth Potteries, said she had either gone into schools or they had come to her to decorate the barrels.

She said: 'It's taken us from September up until two weeks ago to get them ready.'

But she added the children had fun putting their own twist on the creations, which resemble smaller versions of the traditional herring barrels used in Yarmouth - with the added feature of a seagull on the lid.

From the end of next week, collect your map from the Tourist Information Centre or the library, among other locations, to get started and learn about years gone by in the town.