A MASSIVE rock monument marking Great Yarmouth's 800th charter year will be in place next month. The search for a site for the granite monument has settled to its original and preferred leafy spot outside the Fisherman's Hospital, after plans for three giant boulders were scaled back.

A MASSIVE rock monument marking Great Yarmouth's 800th charter year will be in place next month.

The search for a site for the granite monument has settled to its original and preferred leafy spot outside the Fisherman's Hospital, after plans for three giant boulders were scaled back.

Expert underground probing had revealed the site had been unsuitable and the committee overseeing charter celebrations plumped for site of the failed big screen in the Market Place.

However, following a meeting last Monday members of the King John Charter Working Group decided to reduce the monument to one boulder.

Group chairman councillor Bert Collins said: “I was rather disappointed when the location was moved because it's a nice area around the Fisherman's Hospital where people can sit.”

Mr Collins said he was hopeful planning permission would take about three weeks and after which the rock, donated free-of-charge by EastPort UK from the outer harbour project, could be put in place.

The monument is being created by former school chums artist Ernie Childs, of Great Yarmouth Potteries, and local stonemason Colin Smith.

Scenes of Yarmouth's glory herring days and the current outer harbour development will be some of the key moments in the town's history featured on the monument.

The six-tonne rock will have scenes carved by stonemason Mr Smith - work which is expected to take about a month.

The project has been sponsored by local companies PKF Palmers, J H Bunn, and Perenco, and a grand opening will take place later this year.