Hewett’s Score (GOSH plaque)

Hewett’s Short Blue Fleet was originally run from Barking in London. The name is taken from the square blue flag flown by the Hewett fishing

fleet. As the herring trade grew in Gorleston it made sense for the whole operation to be transferred from Barking. This was speeded up

by the establishing of rail links to London in the mid 19th century. This move led to a boom in local industries and the creation of many new

enterprises to service the fishing fleet. Dry Docks, various engineering works, fish curers, ice houses, shipwrights, sailmakers, carpenters,

blacksmiths, painters were just a few of the trades which sprang up or expanded during this time. Mr Harvey George, who was a Hewett’s manager, established the Gorleston Hospital for the benefits of the crews of the boats. By the 1880's Hewett’s employed over 2,000 men and had a fleet of 170 trawlers. However, at the start of the 20th century the Short Blue Fleet declined. This was brought about by the introduction of steam trawlers which were considerably more expensive to purchase and this, during a period of low fish prices. An explosion at the

company's engineering works, which were not fully insured, did not help the situation. Then in 1901, Hewett’s went out of business and 4,000 people faced a very uncertain future.

http://www.greatyarmouthhistory.info/fishing/players.php