YAR3IOUT11, or GREAT YARMOUTH, Norfolk, a market-town, sea-port, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Great Yarmouth, is situated near the confluence of the rivers Yam, Waveney, and Bore, in 52' 36' N. lat., 1' 45' E. long., distant 23 mile. E. by S. from Norwich, 124 mile. N.E. from London by road, and 136 miles by the Eastern Counties and Norfolk railways. The population of the borough in 1851 was 30,870. The borough is governed by 12 aldermen acid 36 councillors. one of whom is mayor ; and returns two members to the Imperial Parliament. The living of St.. Nicholas is a perpetual curacy In the archdesconry and diocese of Norwich. Great Yarmouth Poor-Law Union comprises the parish of Great Yarmouth, with an area of 1510 acres, and a population in 1851 of 26,880.
Great Yarmouth is situated chiefly on the left bank of the Tare, but it extends also along the left bank of the Bare. Over the Bure is • eusgension-bridge. The rivers Yare and Waveney unite their waters about four miles with-west from Yarmouth, forming an 'estuary called Braydon Water ; and the stream issuing from the east end of this lake, being joined by the river Bum, retains in its passage to the sea the mime of the Yana The hamlet of South Town, some time. called Little Yarmouth, oe the right bank of the Yam, may be coesidered as ? part of Yarmouth. The town extends beyond the limits of the old walls, to the north towards Caistor, and to the south towards Nelson's monument, and east of the walls, between the old town arid the sea. The village of Gorleston, to the south, near the mouth of the river, is now connected with South Town.
The town of Yarmouth, within the bouodary of the old walls, con slate of four principal linos of streets, nearly parallel with the river, and of about 150 narrow lanes, called rows, which form the cons manicationa between the streets. The rows are extremely narrow, most of them being not more than from five to eight feet wide, and impassable for ordinary wheel-carriages; the greater part of the traflicof the town is therefore carried on in ' Yarmouth carts,' which are peculiarly constructed, with low wheel., and adapted to the width of the rows ; they are drawn by one horse, and look like sledges, but are well suited for conveying heavy goods. Some of the rows have been enlarged, particularly one near the middle of the town, to which the name of ltegent-atreet has been given. The principal streets are wide, and the houses are mostly well built, but the most substantial and handsome houses are situated along the quays. The provision market is spacious. Near it is the fish-market. The corn-exchange
is in Regent-street. Mauy visitors resort to Yarmouth as a bathing place, for which purpose it is the best on the coast of Norfolk. The town within the walla is well paved and lighted with gas. The harbour is in the river Yam. There are two quays, South Quay and North Quay. South Quay is the larger ; it is about a mile and a quarter long, well constructed, and improved by Sir J. Rennie. There is a bar at the entrance of the river : but vessels drawing 12 feet water, or about 200 tons burden, can pass it at high water, and sail up to the town. The quay is in some parts 150 yards wide, and there is a beautiful promenade planted with trees along the centre. Opposite the aouthern part of Yarmouth a jetty, supported on piles, extends about 450 feet into the sea; it is 24 feet wide, nud in fine weather affords a pleas nit promenade.
The guildhall is a building of considerable extent, with a spacious assembly-room. The town-hall, a handsome building. with a portico supported by Tuscan columns, stands on the quay. There are a large cuaMm-honse, a jail, a house of correction, the Royal hospital, the Fisherman's hospital, a commercial club-house, a theatre, a ball- and concert-room, and two bath-houses. The oldest church is that of St. Nicholas; it is a handsome cruciform building, of pointed architecture, with turrets at the west end, and a tower and spire, 168 feet high, in the centre. It was founded in the beginning of the 12th century. St. George's church was built in 1716, and St. Peter's in 1833. At Gorleston is an ancient church, and them is a small church iu South Town, called St. Mary's church. The Wesleyan, Primitive and New Connexion Methodists, Baptists, Independents, Unitarians, Jews, Roman Catholics, and Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion have places of worship. There is also a Mariners' church. There are in Yarmouth a Proprietary Grammar school, British schools, Endowed Hospital schools, Church Charity schools, a Factory evening school for girls, and Infant schools; a public library, a savings bank, and 70 almshouses. On the beach, about half a mile from the town towards the mouth of the river, is the Nelson column, which was erected in 1817: it is a fluted pillar 140 feet high, surmouuted by a statue of Britannia. Not far from the column are barracks, which were built at an expense of 120,000L The bnilding was used as an hospital after the battle of Waterloo : it is now occupied as a govern ment asylum for officers of the army and navy afflicted with lunacy.