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Moving to Wells-next-the-Sea with Hamiltons Removals
Wells-next-the-Sea is world-famous for its wide, sandy beach and its picture-postcard town centre, which have attracted plenty of film-makers and tourists in recent years. Here Hamiltons removals, who can offer high-end removals if you are interested in moving house to Wells-next-the-Sea, look at the town’s history, facilities and house prices.
The History
Wells-next-the-Sea was originally just called Wells because of the number of spring wells the town had. These rose through the chalk foundations which were common in the region. In the 14th Century, however, the ‘next-the-sea’ suffix was added, to distinguish the town from other places called Wells across the UK.
The town was a seaport even before the name change, with grain and coal the major exports and imports. It was also a fishing port with its own fleet of vessels, catching Cromer crabs, lobsters, mussels, skate and King’s Lynn brown shrimps. While the town’s importance as a port has declined, the fishing fleet remains – a fact reflected in the local restaurants, which usually have plenty of seafood on the menu.
The Facilities
The beach at Wells-next-the-Sea is part of the Holkham Estate and is around a mile from the town. If you want to conserve your energy before you get to the sand and the sea, you can take the Wells Beach bus service. Many wading birds can be seen on the foreshore, including oystercatchers and avocets.
The town lies in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the lack of light pollution also means it’s ideal for stargazing as well as birdwatching. And if you prefer crustaceans to birds, then you can always go crabbing on the quay.
Independent shops are the order of the day in the town centre with plenty of local butchers, bakers, greengrocers and fishmongers (although there is a Co-op as well). Wells Maltings, which also houses the town’s tourist information centre, is now the hub of the local arts scene.
If you are looking for a day out, try nearby Holkham Hall – the 18th century country house is open to the public on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. There is also a full programme of events in the grounds of the estate including concerts and theatrical performances, as well as seasonal events at Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
Transport Links
The town is on the main A149 coast road between Holkham and Stiffkey and is often winding and quite narrow. There is a Coasthopper bus service which operates seven days a week and runs hourly on Mondays to Saturdays and almost hourly on Sundays and public holidays.
Although the town no longer has a mainline train station (one line west to King’s Lynn was never reinstated after 1953 storm damage, while the line to Norwich and further south was a victim of the Beeching cuts of the 1960s) there is still a heritage steam railway which attracts plenty of visitors. The Wells and Walsingham line is a 10 ¼ inch gauge railway and uses part of the old tracks.
House Prices
All these facilities and seaside views come at a price if you are interested in moving house to Wells-next -the-Sea. Rightmove reports that the average price of a home in the town is now in excess of £0.5 million, although terraced and semi-detached properties are usually considerably cheaper.
There is also a local charity, Homes for Wells, which helps provide homes for local people; they currently own or manage 30 houses in and around the town and they buy properties with the help of grants and loans.
Moving House to Wells-next-the-Sea with Hamiltons Removals
As a leading Norfolk removals company, we can help with all aspects of your move to Wells-next-the-Sea. We can offer optional extras, such as packing and unpacking all your possessions (even if they are large or unusual items) and cleaning your old home. We can help with domestic and commercial moves to all parts of Norfolk, including Cromer, Sheringham, Burnham Market, King’s Lynn, Diss or the county town of Norwich.
To learn more about our high-end removals to Norfolk, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.
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