COASTAL HOLIDAY COTTAGES
WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA
NORFOLK
A fascinating jumble of buildings many colour washed wind down to meet the harbour of this small popular seaside town. Its quirky interesting history reflects the salty character of its local people.
The picturesque quayside and waterfront is still
very much a working port with whelk and shrimp boats berthed in this
small harbour.
The main shopping centre of Wells lies in Staithe street, a narrow mostly pedestranised
alley with surviving Victorian and Edwardian shop fronts, that runs from the
waters edge all the back up into the top part of the town. Here you will
find a good range of shops.
At the quayside are stalls selling locally caught mussels,
dressed crabs, cockles and samphire. Or you can partake of a portion
of fish and chips whilst overlooking the harbour and checking to see
if any of the small children and lets be honest, adults as well, have
managed to catch any crabs on their baited lines along the harbour wall.
Sailing is a popular pastime at Wells, especially during the long summer months,
with walking and bird watching providing all year round interest. The beach
is around a mile from the quay and can be reached by road, or by a narrow gauge
railway which runs from the quay. Or if you fancy a leg stretch
and a view then you can walk along the causeway which runs parallel to the
main shipping channel to reach the beach, giving you the opportunity to admire
the many colourful boats. At the beach there is a caravan park which offers
pitch and putt a canoeing lake and also refreshments. The large
sandy beaches of Wells are flanked with colourful beach huts and surrounded
by a pine tree forest and nature reserve with miles of winding sandy footpaths.
Back in the centre of the town is the Butlands a large
rectangular green lined with late Georgian and Victorian houses as well
an inn and hotel. Named the Butlands as it was the area where locals
in medieval days used for archery practice. The green is traditionally
where the towns fetes carnivals and bonfires are held.
An old granary at the bottom of Staithe Street has been converted into a community
hall and theatre, which is administered by the community association and used
for many local events, such as exhibitions and craft fayres. Holkham
Hall with its 18th century Palladian architecture and three thousand acre deer
park is just along the coastal road from the town.
In 1970 a Miss May Savidge moved from Ware in Hertfordshire to Wells, which in itself may not sound that extraordinary, particularly given the pretty location of Wells town. However, Miss Savidge brought with her, her own house from Ware, which she had dismantled brick by brick and then had reassembled in its new location.
In the floods of 1953 and 1978 the embankment was breached and the marshes flooded. You can see these high tide marks on the wall opposite the harbour. In 1978 a heavy tide deposited a large ship in the middle of the streets, much to the embarrassment of its owners Wells has now installed flood barriers which can be moved across the road if extreme high tides ever threaten again.
The name of Wells is derived from the fact that it used to tap the springs of fresh water held by the underlying chalk on which Wells is built. The addition of 'next-the-Sea' was to distinguish the town from other places in Norfolk of the same name. It was known as Wells-next-the-Sea in the early 1800's but with the coming of the railway in 1857 the name 'Wells-on-Sea' seems to have been used. The town council made the decision in 1956 that the name 'Wells-next-the-Sea' be adopted, and this has been used since then.
Tourist Information Centres:-
Aldeburgh: (01728) 453637
Cromer: (01263) 512497
Felixstowe: (01394) 276770
Great Yarmouth: (01493) 846345
Lowestoft: (01502) 533600
Sheringham: (01263) 824329
Southwold: (01502) 724729
Wells-next-the-Sea: (01328) 710885
All prices are per property and not per person. VAT where appropriate is included in the rental prices quoted at the current UK rate.
All of our self-catering holiday cottages are child friendly and most accept pets at no extra charge. Properties are available in the following locations:
Norfolk and Suffolk Country Self catering cottages: Aldborough, Badingham, Brampton, Dickleborough, East Rudham, Hardingham, Mattishall, Mulbarton, Scarning, Stanhoe, Stoven, Syderstone, Thorpe Abbotts, Weasenham-All-Saints, Wymondham.
Norfolk Broads Self catering cottages: Brundall, Geldeston, Claxton, Frettenham, Hickling, Ludham, South Walsham, Tunstead, Worstead, South Walsham Broad.
Norfolk Coastal Self catering cottages: Aylmerton, Binham, Blakeney, Brampton, Brancaster, Brancaster Staithe, Cley-next-the-sea, Docking, Edgefield, Heacham, Hemsby, Holt, Hunstanton, Old Hunstanton, Lessingham, Little Walsingham, Northrepps, Roughton, Scratby, Sedgeford, Snettisham, Southrepps, Stiffkey, Trunch, Thornham, Wells-next-the-sea, West Beckham, Weybourne.