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Celebrating Heritage, Promoting Our Future

1900s

The experimental Brooke hydroplane Surprise on Oulton Broad in 1905

In the autumn of 1908 a hydroplane of the two-plane variety was tried with success on the Norfolk Broads, and over 20 miles per hour was reached with only 12 H.P. Surprise, as the little craft was named, was owned by Mr. M. Brooke, of Lowestoft, and had a length of 13 ft., with a 5 ft. 6 in. beam. She was built purely for experimental purposes, so did not take part in any of the public speed contests.

Added: 23 September, 2023

1928 The bus service was extended to other areas, and in 1929 it was introduced along the route of the tramway.

Added: 23 September, 2023

1927 The first Corporation bus service was introduced, along the seafront. The redundant trolleybus poles were used for street lighting.

Added: 23 September, 2023

1920 - The Corporation installed poles and span wires were erected for trolleybuses. But the overhead wires were never installed, and trolley buses never graced our streets.

Added: 23 September, 2023
Women tram

1914 - 1918 First World War eventually meant that Lowestoft Corporation Transport trams women drivers, inspectors and conductors were introduced

Added: 23 September, 2023
Zeppelin

Zeppelin was shot down over the sea near Lowestoft, the date of which coming close to the moment when Robert Leckie arrived at the station and yet to make his mark and be known as one of “the Zeppelin killers from Canada”.

Added: 23 September, 2023

1931 8th May saw the last ever Lowestoft tram service, driven by the oldest driver who had been with the service since 1903. In almost 28 years the trams had carried around 80 million passengers, and driven about 8 million miles.

Added: 23 September, 2023
Tram in London Road Early 1900's

1930 The Corporation saw the spark was failing, and decided to abandon the tram system

Added: 23 September, 2023
Added: 23 September, 2023
Waller’s Raid CREDIT: AJ Turner

Lowestoft’s worst raid of world war II 80 years ago today on 23 January 1942, while convoys of lorries were still trucking the wreckage and rubble from the scene of devastation that became known as "The Waller's raid" in London Road North, Lowestoft, another deadly raid occurred. An alert had been sounded at 8.41 am, probably caused by German bombers seeking a convoy in the North Sea. Barely a minute had elapsed after the warning when a lone bomber, variously identified as as a Do 217 or Ju 88 emerged from the snow clouds overhead and dived towards the railway station from the NE.

Added: 23 September, 2023