South Denes - A short history
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- Опубліковано 8 тра 2017
- One of a series of films about the South Denes area of Great Yarmouth, made by BBC Voices. This one is a short history of the area narrated by Colin Tooke. Follow the fascinating stories of the old race course, the building of the Nelson Monument, through to the fishing and oil industries.
stumbled across this, loved it, im a 50yr old Gorleston lad and you told things i didnt know...
Just came across this film - absolutely brilliant. Thank you.
Enjoyable film thank you. One correction - I think that South Denes Power Station was oil-fired rather than coal-fired.
Oh mate what a great video,we spent nearly 40 years holidays in Great Yarmouth, stoping at North Denes until they finished.Kind Regards from Worcestershire.
Great little film
All them years ago looked a lovely place .I'm afraid to say you won't see them days again very sad to say .
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Great stuff thanks, look forward to watching more.
great film, with colin tooke, local historian.
Thanks Barry - much appreciated!
Thanks it was interesting to learn the history of this town
Looking at a film on South dennes can't work out what direction we are going because had a holiday there but thought it was north dennes I stayed back in 1978 very interesting history Great
Hya Michael. North Denes has been caravans for years and years, so your holiday memory about you staying THERE is probably very accurate! Maybe one easy way for you to remember (depending on your age in '78) is that the Iron Duke pub, a very iconic and large building is the very next building along the seafront towards the south after leaving North Denes caravan camp. And until the caravan camp expanded their offering, it was the "go-to" place for drinks and entertainment for visitors to North Denes and the surrounding area. Also, North Denes is sandwiched between the sea to the east and the racecourse (and a little further north, Caister Golf Club links) to the west. I wonder if that jogs your memory a little? I hope so!
South Denes was (and still is of course) sandwiched between the sea to the east, and the industrial estate and the River Yare to the west. By the time of your 1978 holiday, South Denes caravan camp (where the caravans more-or-less went down to the beach) had been closed and cleared for years, so it is pretty unlikely to have been where you were. Roughly in the early 60's he caravans on North Denes were separated from the beach by the road (North Drive) which terminated at the (more-or-less) middle of the length of the camp.
The North and South Denes (an alternative name for Dunes) are at the extreme opposite ends of the seafront.
North Denes, now owned and run by Haven, and called Haven Seashore Holiday Park, is still caravans and very popular. The Iron Duke still stands, but has been closed and neglected for many years. The racecourse is still there and very popular.
South Denes is all the land on the edge of the beach from the Pleasure Beach to the Harbour Mouth of the River Yare. It has been earmarked for several years, as Mr Tooke said in the 1997 film, for development as an entertainment complex called The Edge.
At the time of writing (August 2020), Premier Inn has a well established, large new hotel and Beefeater restaurant as the first building on the project. It occupies the very first section of the development and is the first building you come to after passing the Pleasure Beach. Other plans are also active for the complex and include children's play area; multiplex cinema (allegedly Odeon); other national chain restaurants and a major casino. I don't think that is an exhaustive list though. Watch this space (as they say hehe).
I hope that helps and at least jogs your memory, Michael. I know that I really don't like a puzzle like that in my mind myself, so I hope it clears a bit of stuff up for you. I can send you some photo's if you'd like. That's one of my hobbies.
Kind regards
Roy Kelsey (A Yorkshireman who has lived in Great Yarmouth for 52 of his 73 years! hehe)
@@roykelsey8584 many thanks Roy for your time and patience sending me the information on Great Yarmouth I believe I would have been around 21 years old in 1978 I can remember as you walk to the camp site the fair would be on your left and I remember a tower on the right around by the amusement arcade on the caravan site was a pub called the Watergate I think if you cross the road from the camp site there was a pub there but I can't think for life of me what it was called if you have photos spare I would like to see them very much thank you once again thanks very much for your time sorry Roy forgot to mention that I was 21 in 78 now I am 63 cheers Roy
@@michaelbritton9778 Hello Michael. Things might be getting clearer now. If the Pleasure Beach (the "fair") was on your left, you're definitely walking south. The tower on your right, inside the industrial estate as you reach the camp entrance could easily have been the Nelson Monument ( a stone column with Britannia on the top - more properly called The Norfolk Naval Pillar. There is another "tower" amongst the amusement arcades in the middle of the seafront. Maybe you mean that one?
I can't say for the Watergate. I don't ever remember going on the camp. Maybe we regarded is as private, I don't know. But the pub opposite the camp and across the road (South Beach Parade) was almost certainly the mock Tudor half timbered Nelson Tavern (it's original name I believe, and because, no doubt, of it's close proximity to the Monument. But it's had many names over the years since). It has been closed for years but it's still there, with a sort-of conservatory built on the front to extend it many years ago. Goodness knows how they got planning permission! hehe.
Anyway, I'm glad to have maybe thrown a bit more light into the dim-and-distant corners and if you'd like to drop me a line, I'll be glad to send you copies of what I have. For the sake of privacy and spam reduction (!) I will describe my email address here so that it won't be picked up as a hyperlink and a direct contact. Then when (and if) you drop me a line, I'll come back and editi it out again. Here goes! it's my whole name roy kelsey (no space though, and everything in lower case letters) then (no space) the year 2003 then the @ sign then yahoo then dot then co then dot then uk no spaces throughout. I hope you get that! Bletchley Park would have no trouble busting it wide open hehe.
It was great that you got back so quickly. Strike while the iron's hot eh?? I look forward to hearing from you.
With kind regards
Roy
Great film that brings back many memories. I live in London now, but was brought up in Great Yarmouth (Queens Road). My father (Ted Wadbrook) and uncles (Harry and Percy) were responsible for building the Roller Coaster under the direction of a German engineer, and later they designed and built many other attractions at the Pleasure Beach (Fun House, Veteran cars Alpine Chair Lift etc.)
I've always had mixed feelings about the demolishing of the old power station, it was very iconic (in a similar way as Battersea Power Station) but I presume the new one is a lot cleaner and efficient .
I miss the sea, seagulls, and long walks along the prom (during winter of course when there are no holiday makers :-) ).
Very interesting channel, have subscribed.
Thanks for your input
@theShowman This post took me back a few years. At the age of 12yrs I started as a delivery boy for the co-op stores in Blackfriars Road next to what is now time and tide museum. One of my deliveries was to a house in Queens Road opposite the playing fields. Here lived a lovely girl by the name of Susan, she had a friend called Pamela and I have in my mind a small boy who played on the steps of the house he would be about 4-5yrs old. I used to lift him high in the air, he was as light as a sparrow and could swing on my arm as I was tall for my age. Susan was the daughter of Ted Wadbrook. Pamela lived at the Royal naval hospital where her father held a position there. Could that young boy have been you (Glenn?) A few doors away lived another friend of Susan and Pamela I cannot recall his name but his father's name was George. On a visit some years back I was told he was a pianist of note which amazed me as I was guitar mad but we never talked about music. They were Beautiful people to know and lit up my life at that time. I could not wait for that delivery to come up at the co-op and have an excuse to go to the house and sit on the steps and enjoy their company. Halcyon days. This also reminds me of barrons arcade, the fun house etc. Amazing engineering projects there too. For another post perhaps.
@@barryweston1693 Yes That's me. Glyn.
@@theshowman8478 Glyn, thanks for the answer. All so long ago the memories were rekindled by watching colins' video and I got a bonus on top. I hope all is good for you all. My thanks again., BJ Weston.
@@barryweston1693 You're welcome Barry.
Thank you Colin for the well produced film, what memories you have brought people and, myself. I was born in Norwich, then the family moved to Great Yarmouth in the 50s, when my father was the superintendent at the South Denes Power station. Just by chance Colin, did you go to school in Scatby?? I did, later emigrated to Canada in 1964.
Well you learn something every day, I had read somewhere that Grimsby was the birth place of the fish finger however after hearing the claim of Great Yarmouth then reviewing the evidence I find i was mislead !
Hya Garry. September 26th 1955 Great Yarmouth, the true birthday and place of the Bird's Eye Fish Finger (I don't know what time though, lol). It's all too easy to get misled on the internet. I know that from experience hehe. Keep up the research! Kind regards. Roy.
Informative video but yarmouth is between the river Yare and the sea
I just watched this and noticed the same thing . Being born in Yarmouth. Great video anyway
Spot on. But in truth the town is sandwiched between the sea and both rivers Yare and Bure. Kind regards, Roy.
The most important question - for me - is why would anyone want to erect a huge monument to Nelson on a derelict piece of land half a mile from the city centre. ?? A most bizarre choice of location. Now, this monument sits amongst a selection of decrepid and semi-derelict factorys.
Great film.
In the mid 70's we had several holidays in Gt. Yarmouth and Gorleston, great times! One thing I've always wondered, though, there was a large ship beached on its side just of the beach to the north of the river mouth [a bulk grain carrier, I believe], does anybody know the name of the ship?
Christian Lüts Eleni V
Interest vid. im the oppisite of the comment underneath I'm originally from London came to yarmouth at a young age we also .lived on queens road the websters my dad used to drink in the camden pub end of road ,,,,,many happy memories living so close to the seafront ,,,,it was great back in the early 70s you could park more freely i think the town shot its self in the foot in 3 big ways, not having a decent road in ,,,,permit parking all round the sea front and anywhere it seem holiday makers and day trippers need to park ,,,,,,and not opening the outer harbour
Spent all that money building it only to announce its all moving to Harwich?????
Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
Anything on North dennes caravan park
That went years ago yarmouth is a sithole today, sadly 🦀🦀🦀🦀
@@nicotina4082 that's a dammed shame it used to be so lovely. and really enjoyed our holidays there summer of 78 absolutely beautiful oh well time goes on but things don't seem to get any better thank you anyway ATB Mike
@@michaelbritton9778 remember not all change is progress.
Hya Michael. The North Denes Caravan Park is still very much alive and kicking! (contrary to what has been said). It is about a mile to the north of where I live. I'm 77, and when my daily walk takes me in that direction, the buzz about the place is definitely noticeable! It's official title is Haven Seashore Holiday Park and if you're approaching by road, the postcode for your sat-nav is NR30 4HG. Just google the complete title for plenty of information about the modern and huge offering of this popular holiday destination with something for everyone (I would suggest). Kind regards, Roy.
@@roykelsey8584 Hiya Roy nice to hear from you hope you’re doing ok and well. Am I right in assuming that south dean’s was the caravan park near the fairground. And north dean’s is in the other direction. Sounds like North dean’s has quite a bit to offer. Not going far on breaks this year. I’ll have a chat to the wife see weather she’d like to have a look at it next year. From where I live it’s about a six hour drive. To Yarmouth. Thank you for information Roy I really appreciate it. Take care. ATB Mike.