Town's last boat-building family honoured in a mural
- Image source, Richard Howitt
Image caption, Colin Seal's mural ‘Emery family at work - Sheringham Old Boathouse’ shows Reg, Harold and Chris Emery at their Sheringham boathouse
1 of 5
At a glance
A mural depicting the history of the last boat-building family in Sheringham has been unveiled
The work was created by 78-year-old artist Colin Seal in honour of the Emery family, whose boat-building business was founded in 1860
Three members of the Emery family were present at the unveiling
These days the former boathouse is used as a holiday property let
- Published
A new mural depicting the history of the last boat-building family in the Norfolk town of Sheringham has been unveiled.
The seaside town is already home to a number of murals reflecting its prominent characters and fishing heritage.
The latest work by 78-year-old artist Colin Seal was painted in honour of the Emery family, whose boat-building business was founded in 1860.
It was unveiled in the presence of three surviving members of the family - Mike, Malcolm and Jonathan Emery. The three men are great, great grandsons of Lewis Emery, who set up the business.
Mr Seal has painted a number of murals around Sheringham
The mural depicts family members at work and is painted at the workshop at 1, The Old Boathouse, in historic Lifeboat Plain.
It draws on old photographs held at Sheringham Museum and imagines the building of the Windsor Rose, one of the last crab boats to be built in Sheringham and currently held at the museum.
You might also be interested in:
- Published13 August 2017
- Published18 February 2018
- Published23 February 2020
The new mural was commissioned by Richard Howitt and Diana Sutton, the current owners of 1, The Old Boathouse, which is now run as a holiday property let.
Mr Howitt said: “This is a brilliant piece of artwork, bringing Sheringham’s most famous boat-builders back to life.
"It will mean every one of our visitors can be part of the story of the building and will help to sustain its very special history for the next generation.
“The style means it is both a colourful and striking addition to the street scene at one of Sheringham’s key tourist spots, but also enjoys a realism which means someone approaching from the beach or along the promenade, could almost believe that the boat-builders are working today."
At one point in the 1930s there were more than 70 fishing boats operating from the town's beach
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and Twitter, external. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external