The History of Sheringham

Sheringham was originally split into two neighbouring villages known as Upper and Lower Sheringham. Upper Sheringham was mainly a farming community, with Lower Sheringham focusing predominantly on the fishing industry.

These two industries were at their peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, during which time Sheringham gained access to the countries rail network making it possible for fish to be transported more efficiently to market. At it's peak Sheringham boasted a total of 200 fishing boats. Today however, this has decreased to only eight.

Upper Sheringham is mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086 and there is also believed to be evidence on a Roman settlement on the same site.

In the early 1700s each village had about 100 inhabitants, which gradually grew overtime, with the seaside town we know today forming in approximately 1900. In 1901 the village became a town when it was granted status as a self-governing urban district.

Tourism soon became the main trade within the town and this still remains the case today.

Much of the farmland at Lower Sheringham was sold for development in the 1890’s as the twon thrived. The Sheringham Hotel opened in 1889 with The Grand Hotel and The Burlington, opening in the 1890’s. These hotels attracted the more wealthy visitors from the South East, generating a much higher income for the locals.