Local History

A brief history of Sheringham

The Sheringham mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) is the village of Upper Sheringham, which has been a farming community for 2000 years. The village of lower Sheringham was little more than a collection of fisherman’s hovels for hundreds of years.

In the early 1700s each village had a population of about 100, but gradually the fishing industry began to thrive. By 1850 there were at least 100 boats working from the beach, catching mainly lobsters and crabs, and the population had risen to 800, twice that of the farming village.

In 1901 Lower Sheringham gained independence from Upper Sheringham, was granted status as a self governing urban district, and the town of Sheringham was born, now boasting a population of 2000. The main reason for this was the coming of the railways in 1887, when a direct link was provided with London, via Cambridge, a journey which took about four hours. This gave Sheringham a two fold advantage. Crabs and lobsters caught in the morning, could be in London later that same day, and middle class Londoners discovered the quaint fishing town. As a result fishermen rented out their cottages to visitors, and found that they could earn more money in the summer than they could from the sea in a whole year.

Land was sold for building and in 1889 The Sheringham Hotel on the corner of Weybourne Road and Holt Road was built. The Grand Hotel and The Burlington Hotel were built on the Leas in the 1890’s, but sadly only the Burlington remains as a hotel. The Sheringham being converted to flats and The Grand being demolished and new blocks of apartments built. Also in the 1890’s the first sewers were laid, gas lamps installed, and the parish church was built. The town Clock, in the town centre, was originally a water reservoir for the town built in 1862 without the clock. In 1901 Mary Pimm presented the clock to the town in memory of her late husband. The town clock was converted to its present use shortly after the war years.

Gradually over the years the town has expanded to its present size with a great diversity of shops, eating places, attractions and a great community spirit. It’s present population is approximately 8000 now and still growing, but it still retains it’s friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

A great place for visitors of all ages.