nets, and that in course of time these narrow passages became defined and were permanently retained.  In former days rich merchants and traders lived in the houses that line these rows, and had large gardens behind their dwellings; and sometimes you can see relics of former greatness—­a panelled room or a richly decorated ceiling.  But the ancient glory of the rows is past, and the houses are occupied now by fishermen or labourers.  These rows are so narrow that no ordinary vehicle could be driven along them.  Hence there arose special Yarmouth carts about three and a half feet wide and twelve feet long with wheels underneath the body.  Very brave and gallant have always been the fishermen of Yarmouth, not only in fighting the elements, but in defeating the enemies of England.  History tells of many a sea-fight in which they did good service to their king and country.  They gallantly helped to win the battle of Sluys, and sent forty-three ships and one thousand men to help with the siege of Calais in the time of Edward III.  They captured and burned the town and harbour of Cherbourg in the time of Edward I, and performed many other acts of daring.

[Illustration:  Row No. 83, Great Yarmouth]

One of the most interesting houses in the town is the Tolhouse, the centre of the civic life of Yarmouth.  It is said to be six hundred years old, having been erected in the time of Henry III, though some of the windows are decorated, but may have been inserted later.  Here the customs or tolls were collected, and the Corporation held its meetings.  There is a curious open external staircase leading to the first floor, where the great hall is situated.  Under the hall is a gaol, a wretched prison wherein the miserable captives were chained to a beam that ran down the centre.  Nothing in the town bears stronger witness to the industry and perseverance of the Yarmouth men than the harbour.  They have scoured the sea for a thousand years to fill their nets with its spoil, and made their trade of world-wide fame, but their port speaks louder in their praise.  Again and again has the fickle sea played havoc with their harbour, silting it up with sand and deserting the town as if in revenge for the harvest they reap from her.  They have had to cut out no less than seven harbours in the course of the town’s existence, and royally have they triumphed over all difficulties and made Yarmouth a great and prosperous port.

Near Yarmouth is the little port of Gorleston with its old jetty-head, of which we give an illustration.  It was once the rival of Yarmouth.  The old magnificent church of the Augustine Friars stood in this village and had a lofty, square, embattled tower which was a landmark to sailors.  But the church was unroofed and despoiled at the Reformation, and its remains were pulled down in 1760, only a small portion of the tower remaining, and this fell a victim to a violent storm at the beginning of the last century.  The grand parish church was much plundered at the Reformation, and left piteously bare by the despoilers.