Hemsby

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Coordinates: 52°41′52″N 1°41′28″E / 52.69764°N 1.69115°E / 52.69764; 1.69115
Hemsby

Hemsby's Beach Road
Hemsby

 Hemsby shown within Norfolk
Area  7.14 km2 (2.76 sq mi)
Population 2,973 
    - Density  416 /km2 (1,080 /sq mi)
OS grid reference TG495175
Civil parish Hemsby
District Great Yarmouth
Shire county Norfolk
Region East
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town GREAT YARMOUTH
Postcode district NR29
Police Norfolk
Fire Norfolk
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
UK Parliament Great Yarmouth
List of places
UK
England
Norfolk

Hemsby is a village, civil parish and seaside resort in the English county of Norfolk. It is situated some 7.5 mi (12.1 km) north of the town of Great Yarmouth.[1] In the 2001 census had a population of 2,973 in 1,221 households. Hemsby borders the villages of Winterton-on-Sea and Scratby. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of Great Yarmouth.[2]

A Norfolk county map dated around 1610 shows a headland, called Winterton Ness, extending into the sea north-east of Hemsby. This headland has now almost entirely disappeared through coastal erosion.

History

Hemsby along with much of the Norfolk coast was targeted by the Vikings, who initially raided the area in search of precious materials and slaves. The village was founded at some point during this time. The settlement grew steadily and is listed in the Domesday Book under the name of Haimesbei with a description of "a hamlet covering 43 meadow acres with 50 households, 3 slaves, 2 salt pans and 160 sheep."

The village

Beaches

The beaches are one of the major tourist draws in the village, with miles of sandy coastline. Large sand dunes form a natural barrier between the beach and the village behind it. One of the more unusual features of the beach is a scattering of anti-tank blocks across the beach, and a concrete bunker, left over from the World War II coastline defences. Erosion is a major problem in the surrounding villages of Winterton-on-Sea and Caister where sandy cliffs are being destroyed by the forces of the sea. Hemsby's dunes are also being eroded, previously the wide beach has made the effect less noticeable, but the rate of erosion has increased significantly in the past two years, threatening homes, the local lifeboat station and the villages tourist industry. In 2013 a campaign was started to 'save hemsby beach' as of October 2013, 'DIY' Sea defences are being built in attempt to stem the erosion.

Hemsby Village

Hemsby is split into two parts: Hemsby Village and Hemsby Beach. Hemsby Village is mainly the residential area located about a mile inland. Kingsway is an area of the village which includes a SPAR shop, hairdresser's and Chinese restaurant. This is also the main location for buses into Great Yarmouth and Martham. St Mary the Virgin Church was built in the 12th century and is a landmark in the village.[3] The Scroby Sands wind farm was built in 2003 and is clearly visible from the village and the beach. The Blood Hill wind farm is also near the village in Winterton.[4]

Hemsby Beach

The tourist-based part of the village lies along Beach Road and is commonly known as Hemsby Beach. It features fun fairs, crazy golf courses and children's rides. The beach end of the road has cafes, shops and amusement arcades, while at the upper end are houses and accommodation parks, consisting mainly of chalets and caravans. The largest of the accommodation parks was a branch of Pontins, but this closed suddenly in January 2009 after a review from Pontins new owners Ocean Parks.[5]

December 2013 storm

Seven cliff-top homes were destroyed when cliffs collapsed in a storm surge caused by Cyclone Bodil.[6]

The future

Following the Pontin's closure in 2009, Hemsby's traders started a fight-back to prosperity by engaging brand expert Simon Middleton, known as The Brand Strategy Guru, to re-invigorate the resort's image. Focusing on the village's Viking origins, Middleton proposed a new strapline for the resort "1200 years of seaside fun" with an accompanying logo showing a laughing Viking brandishing a bucket and spade.[7] The Viking theme was continued with the announcement of Norfolk's first Viking Festival held in June. The festival included a Viking encampment and re-enactments of battles, as well as a Scandinavian market and music. Benny Andersson, formerly of ABBA, was invited to perform at the festival, and to judge an ABBA tribute band competition.

Hemsby got further attention from the media and from politicians when plans were announced for an "Eden of the East" project involving an eco-tourism park based on the old Pontin's site.[8] The project, designed to be environmentally friendly will provide revolutionary 'open air' camping all-year-round inside giant geodesic domes.

Gallery

  • The beach at Hemsby

  • Seacroft Holiday Park, Beach Road

  • The front of the Mirage amusement arcade

  • The Scroby Sands wind farm visible from Hemsby's beach

  • The beach at Hemsby

Transport

Hemsby was once served by Hemsby railway station which was located on the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway between Great Yarmouth (Beach) and Melton Constable. It closed in 1959.[9] Currently Hemsby is served by two First Eastern Counties bus services, the 1 and 3. The 3 serves Hemsby Beach and the 1 serves the village. Both stop at the Kingsway bus stop.

Institutions

Charities

Hemsby is home to the Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service (better known as Hemsby Lifeboat), an independent and voluntary lifeboat service that operates within the nearby coastal areas and the broads. The institution is independent of the RNLI, relying entirely upon public donations in order to operate.

Each year a fund-raising day, Hemsby Lifeboat Day, is held on the beach, with a variety of stalls and booths to attract visitors.

Churches

Schools

Hemsby's only school is Hemsby First School, a mixed-sex school serving in the region of 100 pupils aged 4 to 8. The school buildings date back to 1904. Due to the nature of Hemsby and the seasonal work that is offered, the turnover of pupils from the school is relatively high as families move into or out of the area.

Notes

  1. ↑ Ordnance Survey (2005). OS Explorer Map OL40 - The Broads. ISBN 0-319-23769-9.
  2. ↑ Office for National Statistics & Norfolk County Council (2001). Census population and household counts for unparished urban areas and all parishes. Retrieved December 2, 2005.
  3. ↑ Hemsby
  4. ↑ E.ON UK - Scroby Sands
  5. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/norfolk/7812232.stm
  6. ↑ "Norfolk floods: Seven Hemsby homes destroyed by sea". BBC News. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013. 
  7. ↑ Hemsby and Newport, 1200 Years Of Seaside Fun
  8. ↑ Eden Project vision proposed for Pontins site at Hemsby
  9. ↑ Yarmouth Beach Railway Station

External links

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