Great Yarmouth Art College doorway as it was a few months ago, photograph by Derek Jackson 2011

A rather numinous photograph  of the building at dusk taken at the end of September 2011.  Note that the name marked on the tiles above the door reads Municipal School of Art.

The neglected college was becoming an ever more tragic sight. so it is good to see it being refurbished by Flagship Housing for conversion to flats.  The building works are being undertaken by Wellington Construction under the architect Paul Dunthorn of Design Partnership.  It is a listed building so the exterior will be returned to its former glory at any rate.   Expected completion date is November 2011.

Central tower with Eric Gill mural and crucifix hanging over altar, St. Peter the Apostle, photograph by Derek Jackson

Of the many unsung architectural gems in Yarmouth and Gorleston St. Peter the Apostle in Gorleston-on-Sea, designed in 1938 by the famous sculptor Eric Gill, must be one of the most unusual. 

Eric Gill had trained in an architect’s office in his youth, the experience proving useful when he was later commissioned to ornament buildings and monuments.  When he was asked to design a new 300 seat Roman Catholic church for Gorleston, he must have seen this as a welcome opportunity to put his architectural ideas into practice, along with his view that the altar should be placed at the centre of the church in the midst of the congregation. 

The Parish Priest whose idea it was to commission Gill was Father Thomas Walker: he had made friends with the sculptor whilst serving as a curate in High Wycombe.   Gill used the High Wycombe architect Edmund Farrel to assist him design a plain bulding that could be built by local craftsmen and with local materials.  The structure was designed outwards from the altar, as Gill believed that a church is there “first and chiefly as a canopy over an altar” (Plain Architecture by Gill).   Crossed arches create an octagonal central space for the altar, with the crucifix suspended above it from the central tower. Arches are used throughout the church, springing directly from ground level, not supported on piers as is usually the case in churches.  The dynamic affect is very striking.   The structure of the roof timbers is also very eloquent in its truth to function.  

Photograph by Derek Jackson

The Yarmouth firm H.R.Middleton &  Co. were contracted to build the church and the foundation stone was laid in  February 1939. The church was opened in June 1939, so it didn’t take long to build.  The whole cost was £6,700.

The Stations of the Cross were created by Denis Tegetmeter, Gill’s son-in-law.  The stained glass  window at the east end was designed in 1963  by Joseph Edward Nuttgens, who had been a friend of Gill’s and was the leading stained glass maker of his time. 

Externally, Gill designed a very pleasing arched passageway from the church to the priest’s house.  It is a real delight to visit this unique church and much appreciation is due to Father Henry MacCarthy for accommodating this visit by Derek Jackson and Bridget Heriz.

Interpretation by Derek Jackson of interior of St. Peter’s

Still waitng to be fed

New Grain storage facilities now in place,but still the cranes have not been fed !!

This special biulding on North Quay, can any one give details of its history? or what history can it tell

Unfortunatly this created a hue & cry at Burgh Castle, it has now been removed !!!!!

Study with sun flowers

Great Yarmouth Outer Harbour

This beautiful image is part of a series of photographs by Derek Jackson recording the outer harbour construction in Great Yarmouth.  Derek is showing a selection from this series at the Novus Centre, The Conge, Great Yarmouth throughout May 2009.  For information about the exhibition space at the Novus Centre go to  www.enterpriseGY.co.uk