About the Society - Page 2
Sheringham Park
Additionally, because of its exceptional landscape value, the National Trust has acquired large areas of land in the vicinity, including stretches of coast, heath and woods, as well as Felbrigg Hall and its estate, and Sheringham Park, laid out by the landscaping genius Humphrey Repton in the early nineteenth century and notable in Spring for magnificent rhododendrons, magnolias and azaleas.
Knapped flints and galleting
The town of Sheringham itself was developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (after the arrival of the railway) from the small fishing community which was a hamlet of Upper Sheringham. It rapidly became a fashionable holiday destination. Several large hotels and a selection of seaside villas were built and the fishing families, usually only able to scratch a meagre living from the sea, gradually grew more prosperous through the holiday trade. Most of the built heritage therefore dates from this period, but with imaginative use of the local building material - flint. There was much skilled facing with beach pebbles and knapped flint, giving a distinctive appearance to the building styles typical of the period.
A flint cobble wall
This photograph shows a flint cobble wall in Sheringham.
Upper Sheringham Church
In addition there are three medieval buildings, the churches of Upper Sheringham and Beeston Regis and the picturesque ruins of the Augustinian Beeston Priory.
Beeston Church on the cliffs
It will be clear from the above brief description that a rich legacy exists which ought to be protected for future generations but which is vulnerable to the pressures of the early twenty first century. The Preservation Society was formed initially as a response to a right-of-way dispute, but quickly found a wider role. The main aims stated in the constitution are stimulating interest in the area, promoting high standards of planning and architecture and preserving features of historic interest.
Beeston Priory ruins
The Society has spawned sub-groups which have grown to independent existence, e.g. the Sheringham Museum Trust and the Sheringham History Group. We monitor all development proposals in the area and oppose all which we consider would have a detrimental effect. We publicise what is best about the area and organise trips to other attractions in the vicinity. We are affiliated to and share the aims of the Civic Trust, the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the Association of Historic Towns and Villages and the Association of Independent Museums. See other pages for more detail.
