Well done to Barnman65 on being FTF. Thank you for being so kind about our first cache :)
The Venetian Waterways may have seen better days, but it is registered with English Heritage as being unique nationally and an area of special interest. Now more likely to be used by dog walkers and for community events, the Waterways was originally developed by the local council in the 1920s as a boating lake and Venetian style water gardens. Designed by S.P Thompson and constructed in early 1928, the site was dug out by hand as part of relief work for the unemployed and more than 6639 tonnes of soil was bought in from nearby Caister to replace the sand. Opened on 2nd August 1928, the area included winding rivers for gondolas, paths through rock gardens, picturesque bridges and thatched shelters.
Over the coming years, the Waterways became a popular tourist attraction and included illuminations,skating in winter, music and a model HMS Nelson. During the war, the Waterways was damaged by bombs but not enough to stop it opening as usual for the 1946 tourist season. Over the years it has also been damaged by floods but repaired. During the 1950s a series of nursery rhyme tableaux were placed around the sides and illuminated at night for trips in the dark but these have been long removed, as has the 'volcano' from the water, pergolas and various statues.Most of the rock gardens have been also removed and in the 1980s most of the Waterways was laid to lawn and now only small rockeries, wind pruned shrubs and small bedding areas remain.
According to Historic England, the area is grade II listed - as although many features have been removed, it is unique nationally in composition and the physical layout remains virtually identical to when it was build as part of a large relief scheme for the unemployed prior to the Great Depression.
It remains in public ownership but has been the subject of many local campaigns to kick-start the life back into it. Boats have not been available for many years and whilst still a nice place to walk many feel it could be returned to former glory and be an excellent tourist attraction once again. Still remains a nice walk, opportunity to feed the ducks and a pretty part of the town. If you are talking buggies or wheelchairs - aim to go around the circle of the edges, as across the middle features some stairs.