Breydon Water, An Empty World

A Sunday morning walk along the north bank of Breydon Water, from the outskirts of Great Yarmouth to the Berney Arms. The skies were dramatic, the world silent.

The Acle Straight

Southtown: Great Yarmouth to Gorleston

The few miles walk from Yarmouth quay to Gorleston and back. A cold day, bright and clear followed by darkness and sleet. Many windows looked dark, the wind harsh.

The East Anglian Perambulator: MR James' 'Suffolk and Norfolk'

I live and wander in East Anglia. None of these are new, but these pictures are all of locations visited by ghost story master M R James in his ‘Suffolk and Norfolk: A Perambulation of the Two Counties with Notices of Their History and Their Ancient Buildings.’

Perhaps no overtly supernatural leanings, but hopefully a vibe of the landscape that impacted him so. All captions are taken from James’ wonderful guide.

"Aldeburgh...has a special charm for those who, like myself, have known it since childhood; but I do not find it easy to put that charm into words."

"The good town of Aylsham would make a convenient centre for exploring much of the country with which I have been dealing."

"The vast dead inland flats from Yarmouth are very impressive."

(Castle Acre): "...no finer ruin is to be found in Norfolk."

(Attleborough): "Here legend says that St. Edmund resided for a year, and learnt the Psalter..."

(Dunwich): "How much of this once populous city with ''fifty-two churches' is left at the moment I will not undertake to say."

"Of the many modern attractions of Lowestoft I need not speak."

(Norwich): "...I imagine that both this [panel] and the other at St Peter Mancroft belong to a Last Judgement."

"A merman was caught at Orford in the thirteenth century, and kept for some time."

"Walberswick, a haunt of artists, also had a very large church."

(Watton): "Undistinguished except that near it the death of the Babes in the Wood is located, in Wayland or Wailing Wood."

Decay Dogs: Great Yarmouth Quay

Wandering around the quays of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Candle Flicker

Flickering candle-light in St Mary's Church, Great Yarmouth.

...But What About Mediocre Photographers?

Or, for that matter, people who graffiti Great Yarmouth doorways with misspellings of 'thieves?'

Big Man: The Grave of Robert Hales, The Norfolk Giant

The church of St Mary in the village of West Somerton, north of Great Yarmouth, and the final resting place of the 19th century celebrity Robert Hales - more commonly known as 'The Norfolk Giant.' Born in the village in 1820, Hales - who would ulimately reach a height of seven feet eight inches and a weight of thirty two stone - was a successful circus performer, meeting Queen Victoria and travelling to America to work with the infamous P.T. Barnum. Whilst in America Hales married the eight foot tall Elizabeth Simpson.

Hales died in 1863. Himself one of nine children, other members of his family are also buried in the churchyard. His sister Mary also grew to a height of seven foot two inches.