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The Scores
History appears to suggest that these ancient thoroughfares
known as scores have existed for many centuries. The word score
has many definitions but as far as Lowestoft’s scores are
concerned various dictionaries offer the following:- A notch, cut,
slash, furrow and indentation. I have included further definitions
in later parts of this potted history. Many of the scores were
named after local people and in some instances public houses that
often stood at the top of some scores. As buildings were
demolished and local names were sometimes corrupted or
circumstances changed so to did the names of the scores. Finally
there are many other explanations that explain the reasons for the
scores and their names but it would require considerable research
to establish which theory is right.
Green Score in Gunton
Green Score could well have been on the site of
what is now Links Road where the old Warren houses stood, and
used when the production of Lowestoft china got under way.
Although these have long since been demolished they were shown on
Tom Martin’s map.
Gunton Score
Gunton Score can positively be identified and was
later named Park Hill and now the Ravine which is on the north
side of Belle Vue Park. The Ravine runs between North Parade
(formerly part of Gunton Cliff) and Belle Vue Park. The park was
originally open land and according to the records was used by
“rough and disreputable characters”. As a result of this it was
enclosed and on the 28th March 1874 the park was opened for use by
the public. Mrs. Reeve who carried out the opening ceremony said
“When I look round I can scarcely believe that in a few short
months this lovely place, which I have known for so many years
covered only with the unsightly contributions of the laundresses,
should now delight our eyes with the golden bloom of nature,
interspersed with beautiful trees, shrubs and plants”. The park
was then linked to Gunton Cliff (now North Parade) by a bridge
which was opened on the 29th of August 1887. It was presented to
the town by the first official Mayor of Lowestoft, Alderman
William Youngman, to commemorate Queen Victoria’s “Golden
Jubilee”. The bridge was opened on the 29th August 1887.
Cart Score.
This is the most northerly score in the old
town; it was formerly known as Gallows Score. Despite the
temptation to conjure up the picture of a gibbet with its grisly
contents swinging in the wind it is more likely that a Mr. Gallow
gave his name to the score
Lighthouse Score. This is situated just south of the lighthouse
and at the bottom of the score are a number of council properties.
These replaced former old cottages that although very picturesque
had been condemned. A local character known as ‘Happy Welham’ and
his donkey lived in one of these cottages
Mariners Score.
This is situated near the town hall. It was
originally known as Swan Score, and sometimes Scarle’s Score.
Gillingwater mentions a Samuel Mariner and there was a tavern
named “Mariners Inn”. There was also the Swan Inn at the top of
the score in which Oliver Cromwell was accommodated when visiting
Lowestoft in 1643 to root out Royalist supporters and their two
old pieces of ordinance which stood at the top of Rant Score. It
appeared that not a shot was fired and Cromwell met no local
resistance and he went off with prisoners including the vicar, and
two
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Entrance to Mariners Score |
Crown Score.
This was formerly known as Lion Score because
the records show that the Lion Inn was on the corner of this score
and the High Street. The score has 48 steps and is flanked by a
brick and pebble wall which were typical in this part of the
country. When the Lion Inn was closed it was renamed Crown Score,
probably because it stood right opposite the Crown Inn.
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Crown Score
the crabs are a recent addition |
Crown Score Crabs
placed as a part of Scores renovation project |
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Photographs copyright Lowestoftonline.com |
Martin’s Score.
This is the next score we come as we travel
south. Originally it was named as Gowing’s Score until 1850. The
records show that this score has two claims to fame, the first
clearly documented and the second cannot be substantiated. It
appears that John Wesley on the 11th October 1764 made a visit to
Lowestoft, that he preached in the open air with his back to a
garden wall. In his ‘Journal’ he noted “A wilder congregation I
have never seen”. At the top of the score on the south side is a
small post set against a wall. It was put there in 1688, renewed
in 1788 and further renewed by the Corporation in July, 1888. It
bears the initials TM. The post was described as being the
“Revolution Post” and the “Armada Post”. Those supporting the
Armada theory point out that 1688 was exactly 100 years after the
great event in which the Lowestoft vessel “Elizabeth” was sent to
join the English fleet at the time of threatened invasion. Thomas
Meldum TM a merchant of Lowestoft, who gave a ship called the
Elizabeth of Lowestoft to help defend our shores against the
Spanish fleet. The Elizabeth it appears was used as a fire ship.
These were vessels were deliberately set on fire and allowed to
drift among the Spanish ships causing them to scatter and leaving
a gap for our own ships to move in for the kill. Another pointer
supporting this view is the date “July”; this was the month that
the English fleet sailed into the channel in preparation to do
battle.
Rant Score
Rant Score was sometimes quoted as Rand Score. It has a
fine Germanic ring but there have been families of Rands in
Lowestoft for generations. In January 1737 King George II used
this score after landing on the north beach. He had just endured a
rough passage across the North Sea when returning from a punitive
expedition against the Jacobites in Hanover.
Wilde’s Score
Wilde Score suffered a diversion in the 1970’s to avoid the
factory traffic at its bottom end but the attractive High Street
end is not affected and one comes out into the busy street from
beneath a covered way next to Flint House dated 1586, the oldest
house in Lowestoft. It was behind this house in 1788 that Wilde’s
School was established from the proceeds of John Wilde’s estate.
Forty boys were “to be taught to read and write and cast accounts
by a learned and virtuous schoolmaster, who should also instruct
them in the Latin tongue”. The school’s motto was ‘Train up your
child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it’.
(This came from the bible, Proverbs 22:6 and will always be
relevant). In the garden of Flint House the renowned Lowestoft
sailor Sir Thomas Allin had a look-out tower built so that he
could see if any Dutch man of wars were approaching. In 1997 the
Wilde’s School, which had been used by Birds Eye Walls, was handed
over to Lowestoft Civic Society. They decided to refurbish these
premises, to provided a Heritage Centre. This is a major
undertaking which not only requires funding but considerable
commitment. I am sure it will be a success as I know of some of
those who are involved and that they are very dedicated people.
The premises, will in time, be an asset to the people of Lowestoft
and those who visit our town.
Malsters Score
Malsters Score could so easily be overlooked as
the entrance from the High Street opposite the Market is
insignificant. This Score has, however, the distinction of steps
leading down between “crinkle crankle” walls. These walls have
withstood winds and the passage of time even though they are
unbuttressed and only a single brick in thickness. Malster’s Score
like Wilde’s has abrupt turnings and in the last century had an
evil reputation for robberies. Formerly called Salter’s Score this
passage way was continued in the beach village as Salter’s Street.
Other researches showed that this score was covered with shops and
at least three taverns on its west side. It was also considered to
be the most busiest part of the town and the most profitable
trading center
Spurgeon’s Score
Spurgeons Score like Frost’s Alley Score bore the name of
residents.
Herring Fishery Score
Herring Fishery Score is still a prominent
score and is only open to cycles and pedestrians it runs from the
Wheat sheaf public house down to Christ Church and Whapload Road
Frost’s Alley Score
Frosts Alley Score is by far the most
interesting of all scores from an historical point of view. It is
said that it formed the seaward end of an ancient track which can
be traced from the Mutford (now Mutford Bridge and lock) at Oulton
Broad along the north shore of Lake Lothing past Leathes Ham
(formerly Plowman’s Ham) then across open ground known as Helle
Ruffe Hill, across Rotterdam Road ascending Maidenhill on the far
side into Love Lane and along the modern Love Road, Milton Road
emerging near the top of Old Nelson Street in London Road North.
The narrow paved passage beside the Adelaide Vaults (now the
Welcome public house) is the only part left in anything like
original condition since the new Police Station blotted out
Frost’s Alley Score which went from this point down to the sea. |
