European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 13, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Amy Geiszler Jones . Bureau great Yarmouth retains its link to the sea  on England s East of amp not has always owed a lot to the sea Osiee it had a flourishing fishing Industry flow it is a popular Seaside resort. The town s debt is reflected in several of its attractions. Between the touristy Marine Parade facing part of the North sea beachfront and the More staid waterfront along the River Yare near the City Center Are a variety of sights anchored around the City s maritime heritage. Within Yards of each other on the Marine Parade Are two of the town s old and Nev maritime attractions. On one Side of the seafront promenade inside a 130-year-ofd House sits the maritime museum of East Anglia with exhibits from great Yarmouth s maritime past. On the other is the 2-year-old sea life Center designed to show British Marine creatures in their natural habitats. A the maritime museum which opened in 1 967, was originally used As a temporary Home for shipwrecked sailors Between 1861 and 1964. Its exhibits now include items that the seamen gathered from around the world such As an american Indian mask and a v mummified hand and some of the knot lying and carved Handiwork the sailors did to pass the Long Days at sea. Model boats and other sailing related items Are found throughout the museum s three floors. In the sea life Center which Cost 3.5 million British pounds More than $6 million to build you can see All sorts of Marine life swim splash or just lie around in 32 display areas while soothing Ocean sounds play in the background. In one Largo Pool All types of rays Fly through the water with their Wing like fins steering and stabilizing themselves with their tails that Trail behind. In another tank an octopus its tentacles waving about Maneu vers itself around its neighbors a 1 group of ugly mud coloured Catfish. In the Congor pit about 10 Congor eels Glide around each other or hide in the Hull of a wrecked boat lying on the Bottom of the eel tank. Smaller Marine life such As sea anemones with their Spaghetti like bodies occupy smaller tanks. Three unusual features of the sea life Center Are its Ocean Tunnel its wave tank and a touch Pool. Quot a passageway under the Ocean Tunnel allows visitors to walk under the shark tank to give a new Angle to underwater viewing by letting visitors see what fish look like from underneath. The wave tank re creates the habitat of nearby Winterton dunes one of the largest Dune nature reserves in Europe. Water periodically washes Over the land and then recedes leaving pools of water and animal and Plant life behind. The touch Pool allows children and adults to handle the starfish crabs and a Quot Mermaid s purse Quot which is the empty egg capsules of a Thornback Ray. A thoughtful part of the display Are the paper towels nearby. Next to the sea life Center is a Butterfly farm where tropical butterflies flit about for the 10 to 15 Days of their life Span. Ground quails Waddle about eating insects that could harm the butterflies in the hot humid Jungle Ike setting. Also next to the sea life Center is the Merrivale Model Village a landscaped acre that contains 200 models. It depicts an authentic British Village Complete with Castle ruins a Cathedral and country Home with a thatched roof a except everything is in miniature. Another site that harkens to great Yarmouth s fishing Trade is the Fisherman s Hospital built in 1702. It has been converted into a retirement Center near the Market place some of the City s other historic landmarks include St. Nicholas Church founded in 1101. It in t open to visitors however because of problems with vandalism. Next to the Church is the 16lh-Century cottage where Anna Sewell the author of Black Beauty was born. But one thing missing from the sea life Center displays and the City s newer attractions is the fish to which great Yarmouth owes its existence a the herring. Great Yarmouth was built up on the Sandy Banks of the River Yare which leads to the North sea and every autumn the herring would inhabit the Waters nearby. To give an idea of How important herring were to the town one needs to Only look at the City s coat of arms which includes three herring. In its heyday the town held herring festivals. Fisherman were making their Home in great Yarmouth As Long ago As 1086. Because of its location the town was considered vital to the defense of England s coastline. In 1260, permission was granted to build a Wall and Moat to enclose the town. It was finished in 1485, and contained eight Gates and about 15 towers. Remnants of the Wall still exist and in some parts of the town have almost melded into other architecture. No one was allowed to live outside the town Walls which led to a very congested layout of Row houses separated by Only narrow alleys. Special carts had to be built to Man Euver around those alleys and one is on display at the Tollhouse museum which is in the town s oldest building. Visitors can also take a look at three Row houses near the River that have been preserved to show life As it was in the 17th Century. Although most of the City s commercial fishing is part of the past other boats have not disappeared Down the Street from the town Hall on the Yare boats can be hired for two hour and Day cruises to the Norfolk broads and Rivers. Sea cruises Are also available from boat operators near the Britannia pier on the Marine Parade seafront. Amp photos a by Amy Geiszler Jones visitors stroll through the. Streets of Merrivale Model Village which looks like an old English Village except for its size. Stripes Magazine june 13, 1991