Hemsby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hemsby |
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Hemsby's Beach Road |
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 Hemsby
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| Area | 7.14 km2 (2.76 sq mi) |
| Population | 3,275 (2011) |
| • Density | 459/km2 (1,190/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TG495175 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GREAT YARMOUTH |
| Postcode district | NR29 |
| Dialling code | 01493 |
| Police | Norfolk |
| Fire | Norfolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Hemsby is a lovely village and seaside resort located in Norfolk, England. It is about 8 mi (13 km) north of the town of Great Yarmouth. In 2011, Hemsby had a population of 3,275 people. It is next to the villages of Winterton-on-Sea and Scratby.
The name Hemsby means 'Hemer's farm or settlement'. Long ago, the Vikings visited the Norfolk coast, including Hemsby. They were looking for valuable items and people to trade. The village of Hemsby started around this time. It grew steadily and was even mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. Back then, it was called Haimesbei. The book described it as a small settlement with meadows, 50 households, and many sheep.
Contents
Exploring Hemsby: Village Life and Beach Fun
Hemsby is divided into two main parts. There is Hemsby Village, which is mostly where people live. Then there is Hemsby Beach, which is the fun tourist area.
Hemsby Village: A Quiet Community
Hemsby Village is about a mile inland from the sea. It is mainly a residential area. Kingsway is a part of the village with shops, hairdressers, and a Chinese restaurant. This area is also where you can catch buses to Great Yarmouth and Martham.
The beautiful St Mary the Virgin Church was built in the 12th century. It is an important landmark in the village. You can also see the Scroby Sands wind farm from the village. It was built in 2003 and has large wind turbines.
Hemsby Beach: A Lively Tourist Spot
The tourist part of Hemsby is found along Beach Road. This area is known as Hemsby Beach. It has exciting funfairs, crazy golf courses, and rides for children. Near the beach, you will find cafes, shops, and amusement arcades. Further up the road, there are houses and holiday parks with chalets and caravans.
One of the first holiday camps in the UK, Potters Resort, started here in 1920. It had wooden huts for guests. This camp later moved to Hopton-on-Sea. For many years, Hemsby was also home to a large Pontins holiday camp.
The Former Pontins Holiday Camp
Hemsby used to have two big holiday camps: Seacroft and Maddisons Camp. They were both bought by Fred Pontin. The Maddisons Camp first opened in 1920. It was a very popular place for holidays. At its busiest, the camp had over 500 chalets. It could host up to 2,440 holidaymakers! It had an entertainment hall, a swimming pool, a pub, and even go-karting.
Sadly, the Pontins camp closed in 2009. This was due to fewer bookings. Since then, there have been many ideas for what to do with the site.
Hemsby's Beaches and Coastal Erosion
Hemsby's beaches are a major attraction. They offer miles of sandy coastline. Large sand dunes act as a natural barrier between the beach and the village. You might also spot some unusual concrete blocks on the beach. These are anti-tank defences left over from World War II.
Coastal erosion is a big problem in Hemsby and nearby villages. The sea is slowly washing away the land. This threatens homes, the local lifeboat station, and the tourist businesses. In 2023, the beaches experienced severe erosion. It became so bad that the lifeboat could not even launch. A campaign called 'Save Hemsby Beach' started to build 'DIY' sea defences.
The December 2013 Storm
In December 2013, a big storm caused a storm surge. This led to cliffs collapsing in Hemsby. Seven homes that were on the cliff-top were destroyed.
Hemsby's Future Plans
After the Pontins camp closed, local businesses worked hard to bring visitors back. They came up with a new slogan: "1200 years of seaside fun." This idea connects to Hemsby's Viking history. A Viking Festival was even planned, with battle re-enactments and a Scandinavian market.
There are also plans for an "Eden of the East" project. This would be an eco-tourism park on the old Pontins site. It aims to be environmentally friendly. It might even have 'open air' camping inside giant geodesic domes.
Weather in Hemsby
Hemsby has a mild climate. Here is a summary of the average weather:
| Climate data for Hemsby (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.4 (45.3) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
12.7 (54.9) |
15.6 (60.1) |
18.6 (65.5) |
20.8 (69.4) |
21.1 (70.0) |
18.6 (65.5) |
14.8 (58.6) |
10.7 (51.3) |
8.0 (46.4) |
13.9 (57.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.4 (38.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
8.3 (46.9) |
10.9 (51.6) |
13.1 (55.6) |
13.2 (55.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
8.6 (47.5) |
5.0 (41.0) |
2.9 (37.2) |
7.3 (45.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 50.5 (1.99) |
43.9 (1.73) |
42.6 (1.68) |
32.0 (1.26) |
43.3 (1.70) |
53.7 (2.11) |
61.6 (2.43) |
68.8 (2.71) |
52.7 (2.07) |
65.4 (2.57) |
70.0 (2.76) |
62.6 (2.46) |
647.3 (25.48) |
| Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) | 10.9 | 9.9 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 7.7 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 8.7 | 10.9 | 12.2 | 12.0 | 116.5 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 65.7 | 84.5 | 127.2 | 189.7 | 226.2 | 225.3 | 228.7 | 211.8 | 153.0 | 114.4 | 76.9 | 59.7 | 1,763.1 |
| Source: Met Office | |||||||||||||
Getting Around Hemsby
Hemsby once had its own Hemsby railway station. It was part of a railway line that ran between Great Yarmouth and Melton Constable. The station operated from 1878 until 1959.
Today, Hemsby is served by local bus services. The 1b bus goes to Hemsby Beach. The 1 and 1a buses serve the village. All these buses stop at the Kingsway bus stop.
Important Groups and Places
Local Charities
Hemsby is home to the Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service. This is an independent and volunteer lifeboat service. It helps people in trouble along the coast and in the nearby waterways called the Broads. This service relies completely on donations from the public.
Each year, they hold two special fundraising days. These are Hemsby Lifeboat Day and Hemsby Herring Festival. They take place on the beach with many stalls and activities.
Another important group is Save Hemsby Coastline. This charity works to raise awareness about coastal erosion. They want to protect Hemsby Beach by building a large rock barrier. Planning permission has been given for this project. Now, they need to raise the money to build it and secure Hemsby's future.
Churches in Hemsby
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a historic building. It dates back to the early 14th century.
There is also a Methodist Church on Waters Lane. It was built in 1879 and holds regular Sunday services. The Congregationalist Church on Yarmouth Road was founded in 1862. Its graveyard is still open to the public.
Schools in Hemsby
Hemsby has one school, Hemsby Primary School. It is for children aged 4 to 12. The school buildings were built in 1904. Because Hemsby has seasonal work, many families move in and out of the area. This means the school often has new students.
Images for kids
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The beach at Hemsby
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Seacroft Holiday Park, Beach Road
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The beach at Hemsby
See also
In Spanish: Hemsby para niños
