Fishermens Hospital Including Gate Piers And Railings

The Fishermen's Hospital, including its gate piers and railings, is a home for retired or infirm fishermen built in 1702 by the corporation of Great Yarmouth. It was restored in 1929-30 by F.R.B. Haward, again in 1985-86 by Wearing, Hastings & Brooks, and the interiors were refurbished in 1989. The building is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond, with burnt headers and ashlar quoins. It has a plain-tile roof.

The original design comprised twenty houses arranged around a courtyard, though this was reduced to ten in 1959. The building is one storey with a dormer attic. The gables of the north and south wings have Dutch gables and large oval inscription plaques, each placed within a cartouche under a segmental hood. The south plaque details the 1702 regulations, while the north plaque lists benefactors from 1765 to 1915. The entrance wings are flanked by two further Dutch gables, and contain three bays of casements with leaded glazing, fitted with shutters. Dormers with 2-light leaded casements are set into the roof. The north and south external returns are simple, featuring just three casements at their eastern ends. An archway leading to the rear is topped with a pediment supported by Doric pilasters, and within the pediment is a plaster relief depicting a barque sailing backwards. Above this is a hexagonal lantern with arcaded facets, a modillion cornice, and a lead ogeed roof, topped with a ball finial carrying a weather vane. Inside the lantern is a painted statue of St Christopher, dating from approximately 1702. The interior of the courtyard houses sixteen 3-light leaded casements, all restored in the 20th century. Fourteen ridge stacks have been mostly rebuilt.

The interior houses were enlarged in 1959 when converted from twenty to ten units, resulting in the gutting of the original interiors. Winder staircases were removed, and further features were removed during the 1980s restorations. The attic is no longer used for domestic purposes. The roof’s rafters and purlins were entirely replaced in 1959.

The central entrance to the courtyard is flanked by two gate piers with diamond-section vertical railings terminating in spearhead finials.