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Welcome to the Sheringham & District Preservation Society

The Preservation Society has  worked since 1979 to preserve the best that Sheringham has to offer.

The Sheringham and District Preservation Society covers the parishes of Upper Sheringham and Beeston Regis as well as the town of Sheringham.

It exists to protect the best features of the area from developments which could destroy their character. It also aims to research and record the history of the area and to publicise it in any way possible.

 

NEWS: 

GOOD START TO 2009 SEASON

The new season got off to a flying start on 9th April when the Fishermen’s Heritage Centre and Peter Coke Shell Gallery opened for 2009. Two new seats in the garden between the Shell Gallery and West Cliff were generously supplied in memory of loved ones. Leslie George was commemorated on one seat and Bill “Tich” Weston on the other. The widows of both gentlemen were present to dedicate the seats and many of  Bill Weston’s descendants had travelled from Essex for a family weekend.

The Shell Gallery has been totally remodelled to accommodate the extra items bequeathed by Peter Coke. In previous years there had been a modest charge for entry to the gallery which seemed to put off many people from going in. Now that entry is free, with voluntary contributions, far more visitors are appreciating the exhibition and the changes have been favourably received.

The exhibition on fishermen’s ganseys proved very popular in 2008 and has been continued for another year.

SUPERMARKET SAGA

Controversy still rages in Sheringham about how the provision of grocery shopping in the town might be improved. Following the rejection by a government planning inspector of Tesco’s appeal against refusal of its planning application, the supermarket giant and its supporters in the town are continuing with their bid to see a Tesco store established on its chosen site close to the main entrance to the town centre. Meanwhile, two new surprise contenders have entered the race, one with a suggestion that an Eco-Store could be built on the western edge of the town and the other resurrecting an earlier idea of a store close to the old North Norfolk Railway station.  For details see the last two paragraphs of the story of the Tesco bid under Current Issues.

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION

The Society will be holding an exhibition to demonstrate what it has contributed to the town of Sheringham and the surrounding parishes over the thirty years of its existence. The exhibition will be at the St John Hall, Wyndham Street, Sheringham from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday, 6th and 7th June 2009.

The main achievements to be highlighted include:

• Approximately £88,000 contributed from the Society's own resources to a wide variety of local projects
• A further £100,000 secured in grants from external sources for local projects
• Opening the Henry Ramey Upcher lifeboat shed to visitors on behalf of the town since 1983 and successful completion of the renovation of the Fishing Sheds from 2006, providing further exhibition space
• Initiating environmental conservation projects (clearing of undergrowth and litter, planting of trees, plants and bulbs) which have improved the appearance of the area (and led to the formation of Sheringham in Bloom)
•  Agitating for a town museum which led to the formation of Sheringham Museum Trust, to which the Society has contributed generously
• Scrutinising planning applications, action to conserve historic buildings and to protest against overdevelopment, contributions to planning policy
• Setting up a heritage walk with blue plaques on significant historic buildings
  

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Having served six to ten years in their current posts, the last five of which have been particularly active, the principal officers of the Society (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) are all seeking an opportunity to retire. The Chief Steward of the Fishermen’s Heritage Centre, who also looks after the opening and closing of the Peter Coke Shell Gallery, is also finding the burden of this position increasingly heavy.

The Society finds that the task of managing the Fishermen’s Heritage Centre and Peter Coke Shell Gallery, which are demanding though essential and satisfying activities in their own right, leaves little time for its other responsibilities as a civic/amenity association.  It is therefore urgently seeking people of any age from the Sheringham area who have an interest in its history, who wish to maintain its many attractive features as a place to live and to visit and would be willing to assist us in the worthy objective of keeping the Society and its activities thriving. We are especially seeking anyone who is willing to take on any of the principal officer posts, after a reasonable period of preparation, and any assistance with stewarding in the Fishermen’s Heritage Centre and Peter Coke Shell Gallery would also be very welcome.

A meeting planned for late June 2008 to discuss the Society’s current problems and its future direction was postponed because it was judged that insufficient preparation had been carried out before the meeting to result in a positive outcome. The Society is financially secure, it has a sound structure and a history of contributing many and varied benefits to the local community. However, unless solutions to its current difficulties can be found within the next few months, the Society is facing an uncertain future in 2009, the 30th anniversary of its founding.