Our Society was delighted to welcome Jonathan Hooton to our July meeting.
Jonathan gave an extremely comprehensive, illustrated talk on The Glaven Ports (Maritime History of Blakeney once called Black Island, Cley and Wiveton). He certainly knew his subject.
Blakeney (featured in the Doomsday Book in 1086) and the surrounding areas were important ports in medieval times. The coastal features lent themselves for the development of sheltered harbours. Trade flourished and grew through the 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. In 1301 two ships were registered but by 1335 there were many merchants trading. Fish was brought in from Iceland, salt was an extremely lucrative import, wine came in from France, bricks and tiles from Holland and in the 16th century coal started to be imported from Newcastle. In return wheat, barley, rye, malt and flax were exported over the years. The coastal line also lent itself to piracy, a very lucrative side industry.
The ports started to decline due to the agricultural revolution and the development of other ports such as Yarmouth and King’s Lynn for Norfolk and Liverpool which had better access to the new world.
Thank you Jonathan for providing us with such an interesting presentation. We will look forward to your return for you to continue the story of these ports
Margaret White