Spurgeon Score

Not referred to in the Revd. John Tanner’s Listing of copyhold properties in the town c. 1720-25 (see Nos. 6, 7 & 10) and must therefore have become a score at some point later on. The likelihood is the mid-late 19th century, when redevelopment of this part of the High Street was taking place, also apparently leading to the building of terraced cottages on the lower part of the cliff-face. These still remain in place and the score was obviously created to give their occupants ready access to the High Street itself, with steps constructed at the top end for ease of passage. The surname Spurgeon must presumably been that of an individual person or family associated with the score - as is probably the case with Titlowe’s and Acton, which are two titles found cited in Jack Rose’s Lowestoft, p. 28 (again, without any further information being given).

©2024 CREDIT:David Butcher

Originally many people lived on the scores, but today Spurgeon Score is one of the few to still have cottages opening onto it. In times gone by there was a row of three small cottages that between them were homes to seventy young children. The Woodrow family alone had twenty-three offspring. Perhaps it was the sea air. The cottages all required services but the narrowness of the score prevented the coal merchant from getting his cart down it and so deliveries were by hand. This task was left to the coalman's young assistants who were expected to carry the hundredweight bags the length of the score while the merchant shouted encouragement from his seat on the cart.