The Scores of Lowestoft

The Ravine is an obvious name, as it is a very deep cutting in the cliff. Because the Ravine divided Gunton and Lowestoft, the Score was often called Gunton Score. It joins Cart Score about halfway down and continues to the bend southwards into Whapload Road.

Access from North Parade on the northern side to Belle Vue Park on the south is by a pedestrian bridge built to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887.

Also known as Gallows' Score.

Cart Score gets its name from the fact that it has always been a wide road bringing carts (and nowadays cars and lorries) up from the Beach Village. Gallows' was a rather sinister name but there is no actual proof of a gallows of gibbet. The name is more likely to have come from Mr. Gallows, who at one time lived in the score.

When Cart Score was first used, it was marked at the top by a pile of stones that had already been there for a long time and are still there, just inside the entrance to Belle Vue Park. The stones are thought to have been the base of an original beacon dated 1609 and at one time it is written that one of the Lowestoft witches sat on the stones as people passed by.

Also known as Lighthouse Hill.

This score gets its name from the Lighthouse situated at the top of the northern side of the score.

This score is very attractive with many overhanging trees. It consists almost entirely of steps with a central handrail. No one ever lived at the top half of the score, but a row of cottages stood near the bottom, which were demolished in 1937 and replaced with modern housing.

Also known as Swan, Scarll and Cross Score.

The name Mariners Score could have come from one of two places, either the Mariners Inn or Samuel Mariner, a Lowestoft merchant. Swan Score would have been called after the Swan Inn, which stood at the top southern corner of the score. Scarll was a Lowestoft family and Cross was probably because of the medieval Corn Cross, once sited where the Town Hall now stands.

Mariners Score is opposite the Town Hall. It is the only score to have an archway at the top entrance. On the south corner stood a butcher's shop in the 1950's and earlier.

At the foot of the score stood the first Low Light, erected in 1627. For over 300 years boats would line up the beams from the Low Light (lit by candles) and the High Street (lit by a coal fire), which provided a guide through the Stanford Channel, avoiding sandbanks and allowing a safe passage through.

A school was erected in 1846 for 182 children in the score and was first known as the Great Girls' School. It went through various amalgamations with other schools until it finally became known as Mariners Score School in the early 1900's. The school closed in 1934.

Also known in the 17th century as Ferney's Score and at one time Lion Score.

Ferney's was most likely named after a Lowestoft family. The Lion Inn stood at the southern corner of this score. The score is most likely named Crown Row, as it stands opposite the Crown Inn.

It has 48 steps and is flanked by a brick and pebble wall. The steps are wide and it has a central handrail.

In the 17th century this score was known as the Common Score and up until 1850 was also known as Gowing's Score.

The name Gowing must have come from a Lowestoft family. The name the Common Score was often used as being a score that was a common way.

The entrance to Martin's Score from the High Street is wide but then it narrows after a few yards to become a pedestrian access. On the south side of the score right at the top entrance is a small post against the wall, about two and a half feet in height. It was first put there in 1688, renewed in 1788, and then renewed again in 1888 when the Corporation decided to replace it. Bearing the initials 'TM' it was thought to be a 'Revolution Post' or 'Armada Post'. Thomas Meldrum (TM) was a Lowestoft merchant who donated a ship called the Elizabeth to the town to assist in the defence against the Spanish Fleet. Elizabeth was used a fire ship.

Another more feasible explanation for the post is the fact it was exactly on the boundary of land owned by Thomas Mighells and was in fact a marker post.

Also known as Blue Anchor Score and Youngman's Score.

The name Rant was after a Lowestoft family in the 17th century, whose name was sometimes pronounced 'Rand'. The Blue Anchor Inn stood opposite the top of Rant Score for many years and is still there, giving the name at some time to the score itself. The name Youngman's must have been from the brewery, which at one time stood on the northern side of the foot of the score.

Rant Score has always been the most used in Lowestoft, having a wide roadway and no steps. This has made it easily accessible over the years, first for horses and carts and now for cars and lorries.

Also known as Denny's Score, The Common Score up to the 17th century and School Score in 1842.

Denny's Score was possibly connected with Amy Denny, one of the known Lowestoft witches, who in the mid 17th century visited the house immediately south of the score, and supposedly bewitched a 9 year old child. Common Score was a name often used in the 17th and 18th centuries, indicating that it was public or for the 'common' use of townsfolk.

The Wilde Family lived in the South Flint House from the time it was built until the mid 18th century. The house was a dwelling on the High Street at the top corner of the north side of the score and is still standing, being the oldest house in Lowestoft. It has the date 1586 over the doorway.

John Wilde died in 1738 and left money to start a new school, which was built in the score behind the Flint House. During the Second World War many of the buildings were bombed during an air raid, but one school room was left and given by Bird's Eye to the Lowestoft Civic Society in 1995 for use as a heritage centre. The air raid took place on 3rd May 1941 and the building was being used as the headquarters of the Lowestoft Air Training Corps. Then on 13th June 1941 two bombs hit the Central School nearby where soldiers were sleeping, killing fourteen.

The lower part of the score was built over by part of the Bird's Eye Walls complex, causing it to be diverted into Cumberland Place in the 1970's and giving it a similar bend halfway down to that of Maltsters Score.

Maltster's Score was also known at one time as Salter's Score.

From the High Street end, Maltster's Score is entered through a low tunnel opposite the Triangle Market, only a few steps from Spurgeon's Score. From its hidden entrance, it runs downhill for about 120 feet then a turning to the right and then another turning to the left it yet again faces the sea.

At one time the score was edged on both sides by a quaint and winding wall, known officially as a 'serpentine' wall, but called in this part of England a 'crinkle-crankle' wall. The only original part remains at the bottom of the south side.

Maltster's got its name from the maltings of which there were around two or three in the surrounding area including one at the bottom of the score itself.

During the Second World War this area sustained a lot of damage and many buildings were lost. When the score was thriving, it consisted of shops, houses and taverns. The taverns were very popular amongst the sailors and Maltster's Score was one of the busiest parts of town.

Also known at one time as Titlowe's Score and Acton Score.

Spurgeon's Score was probably named after a family in the area, there being listed in White's directory of 1844 a wheelwright called Jacob Spurgeon living in St. Peter's Street. There was a time when it was named Titlowe's Score and listed as living in the Beach Village was a tailor called Thomas Titlow, and also a William Titlow of a cabinet and upholsterers in Mariners' Lane.

The entrance to Spurgeon's Score is opposite the Triangle Market Place. It is a well preserved score, still having small terraced houses. The steps and roadway are well maintained, leading to industrial buildings. To imagine how the scores used to look would be very easy whilst standing at the top of this score.

Also known at one time as Christ Church Score, Nelson Score, Spendlove Score, Penloo's Score, in the 17th century as Barringforth's Score and around 1842 as Porter's Row.

Herring Fishery Score is a score with not much recorded history. The public house at the northern corner was at one time called the Herring Fishery. The Herring Fishery changed over the years to the Spread Eagle, the Carousel and now the Wheatsheaf.

In mid 1941 there was shared use of Anderson Shelters in Herring Fishery Score. There were two or three which stood on a piece of land off the score and were shared by families from the Spread Eagle (at the time) and Old Nelson Street.