Nb.Yarwood: Night out in.....Harwich??

We are spending a couple of days with family in Colchester and yesterday evening we had a jaunt out to Harwich where we were going to have a meal in The Pier Hotel. We caught a series of buses and trains that took us to Harwich Town where we walked through to the quay. Harwich is the most northerly Essex town sitting on the junction of the R. Stour and R. Orwell. and although it still operates as a port, with Stena Ferries operating services to the Hook of Holland and Denmark, it is no longer as busy or significant as it once was.

High Lighthouse Harwich designed by John Rennie and built in 1818

The High Lighthouse is almost the first thing you see when you exit the rail station. It is no longer in use.

Essex clapboard houses

A Trinity House pilot ship moored at the pier

Trinity House HQ Harwich. This building was completed in 2005.

Trinity House is the authority established by Henry VIII in 1514, that is responsible for large elements maritime safety. They are responsible for lighthouses and lightships around UK waters, pilot services, buoys and training for mariners. The HQ was transferred to Harwich from London in 1940.

Harwich Pier and moorings

Sunset over the R. Stour

The Pier Hotel built in 1860 to provide accommodation for passengers using the busy intercontinental port. Next door to the Pier Hotel is a building that is now Harwich's Town Hall but was the very grand Eastern Hotel owned by the LNER rail company.

We enjoyed an excellent meal, a bit pricey but very good and it was a special occasion after all. Lots of locally sourced ingredients including Harwich scallops and locally caught fish and shellfish. A good vegetarian selection and real ales as well. It says something about the reputation of this venue when it is packed with diners on a Tuesday evening!