1855, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Suffolk
Lowestoft chapter, page 553
It is to the enterprising and liberal spirit of Samuel Morton Peto, Esq., M.P., the present lord of the manors of this and the adjacent parishes, and the great promoter of the Lowestoft Railway and the New Harbour, that this town and port is chiefly indebted for its present prosperity, and for the great increase which it has experienced in buildings, population, and trade, during the last seven years.
In 1842, the Norwich and Lowestoft Navigation had proved so unprofitable a speculation, that the old company of proprietors were obliged to sell it at a considerable loss, and it wa purchased by a new company, who, after making various improvements, sold it in 1844 to S. M. Peto, Esq., the great railway and building contractor, who, with his usual energy and spirit, commenced the improvement of the harbour and navigation, having first formed a new company of shareholders for the attainment of that desireable object and the construction of a Railway, which, running near the side of the navigation, joins the Norwich and Yarmouth line at Reedham, and connects Lowestoft with that great net-work of railways which traverse all parts of the kingdom.
The company, called the Lowestoft Railway and Harbour Company, obtained an act of parliament, and commenced operations with a capital of £200,000, and Mr. Peto is the chairman and principal shareholder.
The NEW HARBOUR, or outer basin, which they have formed since 1845, comprises an area of 21 acres, enclosed by broad and substantial piers extending into the sea more than 400 yards.
The South Pier, which bounds the south side of the harbour, runs out into the sea about a quarter of a mile in a straight line, and is terminated by a circular end, which is 60 feet in diameter, and has a light-house in its centre. The pier is 28 feet broad at the top, and defended on each side by a wooden parapet. It forms a delightful promenade, and is externally constructed of massive main piles, driven down opposite to each other, from five to seven feet apart, braced together by longitudinal waling pieces, and diagonal braces. Within the outer piles, a face fo dressed masonry, composed of grit stand-stone from Whitby, is raised on the sea side ot the height of several feet above the high water mark; and on the inner or harbour side, the dressed manonry reaches up to aobut the high water mark. The inside space between the inner and outer walls is filled up with massive rubble-stone blocks, (mostly Kentish rag stone,) and the top of this rough work is finished with a slope of concrete, above which is a boarded platform.
The Pier on the north and east sides of the Harbour, winds into the sea about 430 yards, and has a circular end which is about 45 feet in diamter, and approaches the end of the South Pier to within about 160 feet, leaving that space, with a depth of 21 feet at low water, for vessels to pass in and out of the harbour. This pier is constructed in the same manner as the other, but is intended entirely for business purposes, and has a double tramway, with the turn-tables at each end.
There are light-houses on the circular ends of both piers, at the entrance to the new harbour, where 600 or 700 vessles may ride in safety, sheltered from the storms of the ocean. At its south-west angle is a small harbour of about 4 1/2 acres, chiefly used by yachts and pleasure boats.
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