Work begins on restoring Great Yarmouth wall originally designed to keep out invading armies

Great Yarmouth's town wall will undergo £60,000 worth of preservation work over the next 12 months. (Image: Archant)

Having been given the go ahead by King Henry III in 1261, the wall was completed in the mid 14th century and today is the second best preserved in England,

Despite having been originally designed to keep out invading armies – particularly during the Spanish Armada – Great Yarmouth Borough Council is now hoping the restored wall will act as a draw, enticing people back to the resort.

Work will initially focus on the section of wall around Mariners' Road, South Yarmouth, including the exterior of Palmer's Tower, one of the wall's defensive towers.

Project manager Cathy Mijatovic said: 'Every piece of the wall is unique and it makes you very proud when you make a piece solid again. The wall was built so long ago by local people and it is fantastic that local people are now conserving it for future generations.'

Peter Laxton at work on the town's wall. (Image: Archant)

Registered charity Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust will undertake the work on behalf of the borough council. In addition to hopefully preserving the wall for centuries to come, the repair work has also created five conservation jobs for locals.

One of those is Emma Purnell, who grew up in nearby Bradwell and said it was a 'privilege' to be working on preserving the monument.

'It's great to be involved in something that is such an iconic part of Yarmouth's heritage,' she added. 'I have always loved the wall, even as a child, so to be able to work on it is a dream job.'

With many at-risk sections of the wall across Yarmouth, work is expected to take up to 12 months to complete.

William Wallace at work on the town's wall. (Image: Archant)

Do you have a Yarmouth story? Email anne.edwards@archant.co.uk