Great Yarmouth coastal defences

Has been described as a Certain Artillery Fort, and also as a Certain Chain Tower

There are no visible remains

NameGreat Yarmouth coastal defences
Alternative NamesSt Nicholas Gat; South Mount
Historic CountryNorfolk
Modern AuthorityNorfolk
1974 AuthorityNorfolk
Civil ParishGreat Yarmouth

One of three earth bulwarks built on the seaward side of Great Yarmouth in 1539. This was sited on the East side of Market Gate, near the present Britannia Pier. (PastScape ref. Kent 1988)

Gatehouse Comments

Several 'bulwarkes of earth' built in 1539 along beach from mouth of the Yare (St Nicholas's Gat) to the town. One of these may have been the base for the South Mount, a rectangular mound erected in 1590 at the South-west corner of the town wall, between the South Gate and the River Yare, to cover the southern approach to the town and the boom over the river. It mounted 7 heavy guns on its summit. This was removed in C19. There seems to be some confusion in some records between the South Mount and the New Mount

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTG525067
Latitude52.5995903015137
Longitude1.72720003128052
Eastings652510
Northings306700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Harrington, Peter, 2007, The Castles of Henry VIII (Oxford: Osprey) p. 12 (slight)
  • Kent, Peter, 1994, 'Armada and 17th-Century Defences' in Wade-Martins, P, (ed), An Historical Atlas of Norfolk (2edn Norwich; Norfolk Museums) p. 136-7
  • Kent, Peter, 1988, Fortifications of East Anglia (Lavenham: Ternence Dalton) p. 196
  • Blomefield, F., 1810, 'East Flegg Hundred: Great Yarmouth' An Essay towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk Vol. 11 p. 352-64 (history) online transcription

Antiquarian

  • Palmer, C.J. (ed), 1854, Manship's History of Great Yarmouth (Yarmouth) p. 48 (written temp. James I) online copy