Archive photograph of the Newport Cottages, Hemsby

Old fishermen’s cottages in Hemsby are being protected for the future.

The Newport Cottages in Hemsby - a rare survival of homes built for people who made a living from the sea in the late 19th Century, are now a designated conversation area.

The rows of terraced houses are built from beach pebbles and lime mortar with clay in a style known as Caister Cobble. Located just behind sand dunes close to the sea, the buildings are considered unspoilt and unique.

By placing them in a conservation area, Great Yarmouth Borough Council now has a legal duty to ensure their preservation.

In a report proposing the conversation area, council conservation officer Darren Barker said: “Newport Cottages are a rare survival of a purpose built group of buildings whose inhabitant sought their living from the sea.

“The materials used in the construction were sourced in the area and creates a local distinctiveness.

“The cottages are generally unspoilt or degraded by development.”

Despite its coastal location, Hemsby grew as a mainly agricultural village.

It was mentioned in the Doomsday book as a hamlet covering 43 meadow acres with 50 households, three slaves, two salt pans and 160 sheep.