Public Art, The Fishermen’s Hospital

The Fisherman’s Hospital at the north end of the Market Place was founded by The Corporation of Great Yarmouth in 1702.  The building was begun in 1698, probably based on an off-the-peg design by a Dutch architect, with the plan tweeked to fit the irregular space available on the site.  It cost £621.  It was set up as Almshouses for ‘decayed’ fishermen providing free housing for twenty fishermen and their wives aged sixty and over who could no longer provide for themselves.  A wife had to leave for the workhouse however if her husband died. 

Some of the cottages had spiral staircases up to the first floor, and some ladders, but there were no floor boards and it is presumed the fishermen swung hammocks from the rafters.  No were there any  partition walls on that floor, so privacy was only available on the ground floor.

The building is built in brick and displays ornamental detail in a charming baroque fashion, including a fine figure in the cupola on the roof representing Saint Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, and the ‘fisher of souls’.  English Heritage, probably mistakenly, has stated that this figure is Saint Christopher.  The sculpture is made of wood and was repainted in 1986 by students of the Great Yarmouth Art College when some restoration work took place.

Originally there were also two wooden sculptures of fishermen adorning the brick gateway posts but these had decayed and been removed by 1805.

In the centre on a square pedestal stands a cast  statue of a figure of Charity: this is thought to be the first free-standing sculpture to exist in the town. This figure is cast in lead painted to look like stone and came from a lead foundry in London.  There seems to be no information available about the artists who created these figures, but research will be taking place 2011-12 to support an application to English Heritage for funding towards further restoration work.  If anybody has any information or ideas, it would be good to be able to improve the record.

The exterior of the building has been well-preserved but the internal layout has been altered to provide nine units suitable for contemporary fishermen of Great Yarmouth who continue to be provided for by the Charity. 

Thanks to Dr. Paul Davies and Great Yarmouth Municipal Charities for information.