Case study- Sheringham

Question 1

What is Sheringham’s situation?

Answer 1

Coastal area with the nearest large town being Cromer to its west. It’s north of Beckham.

Question 2

What is Sheringham’s site?

Answer 2

Low lying, as coastal town.
1KM East - West
1.5KM North - South

Question 3

What is Sheringham’s relief?

Answer 3

Above the coast it’s around 20-30 m above sea level which reaches up to 65 m into the town.

Question 4

What is Sheringham’s main land use?

Answer 4

Main land use is tourism with most of the town being small tourist shops and cafes etc, there is also a large number of campsites. The surrounding area is used for residential and farm land.

Question 5

What are possible flows through Sheringham?

Answer 5

Tourists and commuters have access through several A roads which run through there is also a railway line and station. Primarily used in the fishing days but theres also access by sea.

Question 6

Street map compared to OS map?

Answer 6

• Shows street names
• Less detail
• More useful to outsiders as they can get a better sense of direction/ place.
• Closer look at Sheringham specifically as opposed to surrounding areas.
• Neither show character etc of the town.
• Street map much simpler to use and understand.

Question 7

Historical map compared to the OS map?

Answer 7

• Historically all on the main/ first coastal road but ow spreads south out to A148.
• Now much more densely packed.
• Can’t see any detail such as if and how the land use has changed.

Question 8

How did Sheringham change though images?

Answer 8

• Layout of the town has remained the same as well as the same buildings.
• Different/ more shops.
• More cars.

Question 9

Are images a useful tool?

Answer 9

• Useful to show the changing characteristics of the town as they help to get a better sense of place.
• It’s only a snapshot in time so doesn’t show what its like 24/7 also still doesn’t show economic, social and demographics characteristics.

Question 10

Sheringhams demographics (statistics)?

Answer 10

• 98% white British.

- 96% born in UK.

Question 11

Sheringhams social characteristics (statistics)?

Answer 11

• 9-30% with professional qualifications.
• 12% with a degree.
• 13-30% with no qualifications.

Question 12

Sheringhams economic characteristics (statistics)?

Answer 12

• 55% economically active

- 45% economically inactive

Question 13

Sheringhams age structure?

Answer 13

• 50 is mean age
• 46% 25-30
• 34% 65+

Question 14

Most common crimes up to Feb 2018?

Answer 14

• Anti-social behaviour- 153
• Violence and sexual behaviour- 144
• Criminal damage and arson- 58

Question 15

How was Sheringham affected by exogenous factors?

Answer 15

Funded by the FLAG project which is run by the European Union (60%) and North Norfolk Council (40%):

• Fishermans ramp was resurfaced
• Replaced hydraulic winch

Rely on flows of people throughout the town:

• 10,000 employed in tourism
• Led to a 20% rise in full time employment
• Tourism industry worth $484 million annually

Question 16

How is Sheringham affected by endogenous factors?

Answer 16

• Close proximity to the sea it became a fishing town with over 1000 boats launched from the beach during the 1900s.
• Coastal location also is the reason it became a tourist hotspot.
• Old victorian buildings contribute to the small quaint character of the town.
• Coastal erosion is the reason for the hold the line policy, £850,000 spent on repairing the sea wall. Policy may change after 10 years if promontory effect and the costs outweigh benefits.

Question 17

How has Sheringham been shaped by shifting flows of people?

Answer 17

• Tourists support most of the jobs within the town such as cafes and shops. 2500 jobs in tourism. Is a social and economic characteristic.
• Second home owners who only live in the area during the summer months, house prices rise due to an increase in demand, locals cannot afford these prices may have to move, house price rise = tax increase more money for local government. Support local businesses.
• Retired moving to live permanently means 44% of the population are 65+, usually wealthy so invest into the local economy more, creates more peaceful area.

Question 18

How has Sheringham been shaped by shifting flows of money and ideas?

Answer 18

• Tourists allow a range of services to function due to spending while in the town, creates a PME due to the local economy being wealthier. Social and economic characteristic.
• Second home owners spend money when in the local area, so support, may change the community feel due to not being continuously around.
• Tescos economic characteristic as brought money into community and also provided 150 new jobs, also brought conflict as not all residents wanted it, maybe its becoming more of a clone town? Also changes social characteristics.
• Investment from EDRF, Norfolk Council and FLAG replaced the old winch for new hydraulic winch as well as the gangway slope. Cost £138,000, economic
  characteristic as a shifting flow of money from EU.

Question 19

What external forces such as MNCS have impacted on Sheringham?

Answer 19

• Tesco meant that independent shops closed, also caused conflict within the town as many residents did not want it in the town. Created 150 jobs, strengthens the local economy. Social and economic characteristic.
• Fishing quotas by EU led to the decline of fishing within the town. Potential economic downturn as previously a fishing town
• Investment from Council, EDRF, and FLAG meant fishing in the town could continue (smaller scale). Government policy and global level of investment (EU).

Question 20

Has there been conflict created from endogenous/external or endogenous/internal factors?

Answer 20

• Conflit caused by second home owners as they only live there when it suits them = loss within the sense of community and not always supporting the economy within the town, but council does receive more tax because of them.
• Tesco created 17 year conflict between locals as not all wanted it, set up SCAMROD, caused some local independent businesses to close.
• Fishing declined because of EU quotas shifted the employment structure of Sheringham as fishing declined. Became known as a tourist town.

Question 21

How have past connections shaped social and economic character of town?

Answer 21

• A149 coastal road brought in people, tourists and second home owners. This changed the town on global and local scale.
• Railway came in 1880 more accessible for tourists and population, helped the town grow through increases in services. Boosted the local economy.

Question 22

How do present connections shape the social and economic character of the town?

Answer 22

• Tourism continues to shape place as majority of people within the town are employed in tourism. Boosts the local economy, which creates further jobs= PME.
• Tesco changed economic characteristics by providing new jobs and creating a new shopping experience. National scale change.
• EU investment helped to keep the fishing industry alive.

Question 23

How is Sheringham represented by the media?

Answer 23

• Guardian article presents the town in a good way, shows that it has good schools, with good services, does however state that places are very distant from there.
• Art by Brian Lewis only paints ‘the blue sky days’ all pictures are bright and colourful. He claims to leave the ‘grey days and angst for others.’
• Railway poster from the 1950s, paints the city as a good tourist destination, traditional seaside village, clear importance on fishing boats.
  Can infer a shift in the economy and main profession, has since become more accessible (prev only railway).
• Poem for the launch of the first lifeboat shows the importance on finishing, negative tone as highlights the dangers faced.
• Shantymen sing tradition folk music, portray a close sense of community, huge fishing community where they all help each other.

Question 24

What sense of place and lived experience do individuals have of Sheringham in the present?

Answer 24

-High school students all have a similar lived experience say its a place with a close knit community but there a little to do for teenagers due to a predominantly older population.
They have lack of attachment to place due to wanting to go elsewhere. Area more geared to tourists and elderly.

• Locals interviewed on streets say thats its a safe place to live and work, claimed it was a good area to grow up in and was welcoming to new residents and tourists.

Question 25

What sense of place and lived experience do individuals have of Sheringham and how is this shaped by past character?

Answer 25

• Fishermen have a strong identity as it was the most prevalent past industry in the town, their heritage is based around the sea.
  Boat trips by fishermen started the tourism industry and made it what it is today. Huge attachment to place.
• Sheringham Shantymen discuss how important fishing is to the town and inform people of what life was like for the fishermen before.

Question 26

What is the place meaning of Sheringham to an outsider?

Answer 26

• Seaside town predominantly tourists, quiet and quaint may see it as a desirable area with lots of tourists wanting to go to the area. Maybe sense the strong sense of community.

Question 27

How have external agencies and the community and local groups influenced the place meaning of individuals?

Answer 27

-Visit Sheringham encourages tourists to come via websites, leaflets.
Organise events such as viking festival, carnival and the 1940s weekend which encourages both residents and tourists to get involved.
Helps boost the local economy. Also tried to protect tradition and fishing by protesting for the concrete ramp etc also tries to encourage young people to get into fishing.

• North Norfolk district council ensure that defences are kept in working condition due to the hold the line policy Protects local businesses and homes.