Situated on East Quay in Wells-next-the-Sea, Standard House Chandlery has a long tradition of catering to the needs of sailor-types. As The Standard Inn during the 1700s, a young Nelson sat and watched sailors performing shanties and generally discussing all things nautical, an experience that can only have helped him find his own ‘sea legs’ only a few years later.
Doubling as the first rural post office in Norfolk, and located on the then-busy sea-going harbour of Wells, it must have been quite a lively place.
Nowadays, Wells Harbour is more famed for its visual appeal than its functionality. It is lovely to sit on the quay and watch the yachts or fishing boats (even better with a portion of salty chips from one of the chip shops opposite). The Albatross sailing ship (one of the oldest sailing ships still afloat, and the last ship to bring a cargo to the harbour) is moored there as a permanent visitor attraction and rather nice restaurant (great pancakes!).
The Standard Inn is now Standard House Chandlery – an emporium of all sorts of equipment and accessories for boating and sailing, from footwear and clothing to outboard engines. You can even buy new and used craft.
Proprietor John Crook (who, along with wife Marion, has run Standard House for over twenty years) is an experienced marine engineer. Consequently, Standard House Chandlery is able to offer storage, maintenance and repair services for all types of inboard or outboard engines.
Whether you’re a keen sailor (or aspire to be one), or simply visiting Wells, a visit to Standard House Chandlery is a great opportunity to experience a little, local feature of maritime history.
Standard House Chandlery.
East Quay, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1JY.
Tel: 01328 710593.