The Rows, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
This photograph shows one of the Rows in Great Yarmouth. It gives a sense of just how dark and narrow they were, with open drains running down them. Here you can see also some of the people who lived in them. Although this photograph does not specify which row it is it is probably one of the ones leading up towards the church. The 'Rows' of Great Yarmouth are first mentioned in 1198. They then developed in the 1200s – 1300s forming a unique town plan. Most of the rows were only 90 – 150cm wide. This meant just opening a door could bash a passer-by. This led to a law being passed that meant all door had to open inwards. There were 145 Rows all crammed tightly in to the city’s medieval walls. The rows were not numbered until 1803. The black painted squares with white numbers on can still be seen on some buildings today. The Rows survived reasonably well until WW2. The town was heavily bombed, damaging and destroying many buildings. After the war many more were torn down as they were considered to be ‘slums’. They were replaced by new housing estates.
