PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE An historic town, with a rich and proud maritime heritage - waiting to be discovered Behind Great Yarmouth’s façade of bright lights, lies a charming town that is stepped in history and interest. Great Yarmouth has a rich and proud maritime heritage and was once one of the wealthiest towns in Britain on account of its prosperous herring fishery. Norfolk born Horatio Nelson also has very strong connections with Great Yarmouth. Visitors have been coming to Great Yarmouth for nine hundred years, but it is only in the last two hundred years that the seaside has become the main attraction. You can unravel history and encounter the amazing secrets about our seaside town on our guided heritage tours. You can walk or take the bus, either way our tour guides will leave you astonished, informed and wanting more… This year, our guided heritage walks will take place from 6th May through to 21st October. There is a choice of three fascinating walks: * Medieval Town Wall – Tour of one of the most complete medieval town walls in England, including the 300-year old smoke houses and a pottery, which is built into one of the surviving towers * Heritage Quarter – Exploring the ancient heart of Great Yarmouth. It continues to the quayside and places associated with our maritime heritage including Admiral Lord Nelson’s connections to the town. * The Seafront Walk – Revealing the unknown wealth of seafront history and interest; including the home for shipwrecked sailors and many other attractions and buildings that have a story to tell. New for 2007 is ‘Eerie tales and Yarmouth Yarns’ walk The tour tells the tales and legends from the oldest streets in Great Yarmouth – visiting the quayside and historic buildings such as St George’s Theatre, South East Tower and Great Yarmouth Potteries. The stories told in the Potteries about the ‘Smugglers Tunnels’, ‘The Walking Cavalier’ and the ‘Highwayman in Lily Pit’ will send shivers down your spine. Comments from walkers Each year the guided walks increase in popularity, the following comments speak for themselves: “We really enjoyed the tour - with a good mix of fact, anecdotes and ‘local colour’” “Our guide was very knowledgeable and well informed and expressed the areas of interest with much enthusiasm” “I have lived in Yarmouth all my life – I saw and found out things that I never knew existed” “A fantastic guide, which brought Yarmouth’s history to life” For further information, please call the Tourist Information Centre on 01493 846345 or the Official Guides Coordinator on 07901 915390 -ends- INFO FOR THE EDITOR: Full description of the walks Medieval Town Wall Gt. Yarmouth lies at the heart of Norfolk’s heritage, possessing one of the most complete medieval town walls in England. Starting from the ancient Norman St. Nicholas church, the walk includes 300-year old smoke houses and a pottery, which is built into one of the surviving towers . Tour starting point: St Nicholas Church, close to the Market Place Length of walk: 1 3/4 hours approx. Heritage Quarter This walk is steeped in history and starts in the ancient heart of Great Yarmouth. It continues along the quayside and associated places associated with our Maritime heritage. Admiral Lord Nelson was born in Norfolk and was a regular visitor to Great Yarmouth. He was granted the ‘Freedom to the Borough’ accolade after the Battle of the Nile. This walk also illustrates Nelson’s long connection with the town and we invite you to follow in the footsteps of this remarkable man. Tour starting point: St Nicholas Church, close to the Market Place Length of walk: 1 ¼ hours approx. The Seafront Walk Many visitors come to Yarmouth because they are attracted by the traditional charms of a large seaside town.  But there is more to the seafront than the sea, sand and amusement arcades - beyond its facades lies a wealth of history and interest which is largely unknown.  For starters, the walk begins at the Tourist Information Centre which was built in 1858, as a home for shipwrecked sailors and visits many other buildings and attractions which also have interesting tales to tell!  So why not join us on the walk and encounter the secrets of this special part of Yarmouth! Tour starting point: Tourist Information Centre on Marine Parade Length of walk: 1 1/2 hours approx. Tickets for the above three walks cost £3.50 for adults, £1.50 for children aged 11-16 and are free for children under 11 years. Tickets are available on the day from the guide. Eerie tales and Yarmouth Yarns walk This tour tells the tales and legends from the oldest streets in Great Yarmouth. The walk takes in the quayside, the Old Gaol, St George’s Theatre, St Peter’s Church, the South-East Tower and Great Yarmouth Potteries. Inside the Potteries Smokehouse, stories passed down through generations about ‘Smugglers Tunnels’, ‘The Walking Cavalier’ and the ‘Highwayman in Lily Pit’ will send shivers down your spine. Tour starting point: Star Hotel, Hall Quay Length of walk: 2 hours approx. Tickets for the above walk costs £6.50 for adults, £3.50 for children aged 11-16, £15.00 for a Family ticket, free for children under 11 years. Unsuitable for children under 7 years. Tickets are available from the Tourist Information Centre, 25 Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth. Tel 01493 846346 For further information, please contact: Dona Watson, Official Town Guides Coordinator Tel: 07901 915390; Email: donawatson@btinternet.com Or Nicola Gibson, Tourism Division, Greater Yarmouth Borough Council Tel: 01493 846340; E-mail: nmg@great-yarmouth.gov.uk Attached Images and Pictures: * Hippodrome * Nelson’s Column * South East Tower