YARMOUTH, GREAT, a seaport town of England in the county of Norfolk, is surrounded on the south and east by the sea, and is situated on the east side of the Yare, over which there is a handsome stone draw-bridge, which connects it with Suffolk. The town is an oblong square, about a mile long, and half a mile broad, including an area of 33 acres.. It contains four parallel streets, crossed by 156 nar rower ones or rows. The town is encompassed with a wall on all sides but the west, about 2240 yards long. The church of St. Nicholas consists of a nave, two aisles, and a transept. The organ is consider ed to be of a very superior kind. In 1716 a hand some chapel was erected, and dedicated to St. George. The town-hall situated near the centre of the quay, is an elegant edifice with a Tuscan portico. The commercial ball ,sometimes used for assemblies, is a handsome apartment, having at one end a fine portrait of George H. A neat theatre was built in 1778. The other public buildings are the Fisher man's hospital, a large square edifice; the hospital school for 30 boys and 20 girls; the subsetiption charity school for 70 boys and 30 girls; the barracks built on the beach, and capable of holding 1000 men, and the armoury lately erected by Mr. Wyatt, on the west side of the town, capable of holding 10,000 stand of arms, besides a great quantity of naval stores.
The quay at Yarmouth is supposed to be the finest in Europe. From the south gate to the bridge its length is 1014 yards, and it extends 1016 yards be yond this for smaller vessels, being a length of one mile and 270 yards. It is in many places 150 yards wide. A range of handsome buildings adorns the southern part of it. The harbour is formed by two piers. The principal one on the north is 235 yards long, 40 feet wide at bottom, and 20 at top. The south pier is 340 yards long, 30 feet broad, and 30 deep, 24 feet of the depth being commonly under water. The extent of the harbour between these two piers is 1111 yards. It has two light-houses,
one at Caister and one at Garleston. Owing to the dangerous character of the coast, this harbour is the resort of shipping in easterly storms. The an nual expense of the harbour is about £2000.
Yarmouth enjoys great commercial advantages owing to its situation at the mouths of the rivers Yare, Thyrre and Waveney, which are navigable for keels of 40 tons. The vessels belonging to the port excluding fishing smacks, amount to 300, Yarmouth being the eighth port in England for the quantity of shipping. The herring fishery which is carried on in boats of from 40 to 50 tons, gives subsis tence to 6000 persons. The trade in coal is also great. Great quantities of corn and malt are ship ped for London. The woollen manufactures of Nor wich and the vicinity, are exported in great quan tities, and a considerable trade is carried on with the Netherlands, Norway, and the Baltic, from which timber and naval stores are imported. Ship building is carried on to considerable extent.
The town is defended by three forts, erected on the verge of the beach, and mounted with 32 pound ers. The harbour is defended by two bastions. There are two banks in the town, a court of admi ralty, and a small court for the recovery of debts between and £10.
As a place of fashionable resort for sea-bathing,. Yarmouth has every proper accommodation, and is much frequented. A bathing-house was erected on the beach in 1759, with separate baths for gentle men and ladies, the sea water being raised by a horse mill. A public room was added to this building in 1788. There are also good bathing machines on the beach. Yarmouth returns two members to par liament. Population of the borough in 1821, 3981 houses, 4318 Families, 1286 ditto in trade, 10 in ag riculture; 7649 males, females 10,391. Total num ber of inhabitants 18,040.