South Quay has Great Yarmouth's oldest and finest buildings. When the town was established in the 11th century, it faced not the sea but the river. Here South Quay was the main thoroughfare of what soon became the largest herring port in the world. Today, merchant’s houses from that prosperous time can still be seen stretching along the riverfront. Many are Dutch in style, Holland being one of Great Yarmouth’s major trading partners.