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© Broadland Memories 2006-2026

Page  21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

1900-1949 Photo Gallery

Sutton Staithe c1912. Richard Southgate began building and hiring boats here in the late 19th century, his sons George and Edward taking over after he died in 1913.

It is thought that this may have been taken at Barton Turf - two unidentified trading wherries are seen here.

A wonderful photograph, capturing what I presume are two reedcutters or marshmen taking a break on the riverbank alongside their reedlighter. The men have clearly made makeshift parasols to shade them from the sun with the materials they had to had.

Are these the same two gentlemen who were seen in the last photograph I wonder? Another lovely photograph capturing rural life on the river c1912. It’s a narrow stretch, perhaps somewhere on the Upper Thurne.

The cameraman took a number of images of wherries on the Broads including this shot of a trading wherry. Again, this is quite a narrow stretch of waterway.

The first of two photographs of a large sailing cruiser which is flying an Ernest Collins burgee. My yacht recognition is not very good but is this possibly “America”?

Another photograph of the same yacht c1912.

A rather lovely half decker - is this a narrow cut to a mill I wonder?

An unknown pleasure wherry on yet another narrow stretch of the river, perhaps the Upper Thurne once again. Most of the holiday party appear to be seated on the bow.

This, and the last photograph are not the best quality as they were combined as a double exposed image. I have managed to separate the two, but this is as much detail as I was able to pull out. It has at least enabled me to identify this particular racing launch as being either “Vicuna” or her sister ship “Fuji Yama” which were built bu Boulton & Paul of Norwich in 1911 for the brothers Ernest and Oscar Martin to contest  the British Motor Boat Club’s new 21ft class series of racing. Both launches were apparently very successful during the 1911 and 1912 seasons.

Vicuna seemingly survived as she was advertised for sale by auction at the 1994 Goodwood Festival of Speed having undergone a full restoration. If anyone knows her current whereabouts then please do get in contact.

Another collection from the Broadland Memories archives. I initially thought that this set, which were together as part of a photograph album, also dated from the era of the First World War, but the clothing worn by the ladies looked a little earlier to me. Further investigations now lead me to believe that they are actually just pre-war. Once again, I have no information about the people featured here but they are a very nice set with some very interesting images amongst them.

Looking up towards Wroxham Bridge c1912 with the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company on the right.

Unidentified river cruiser c1912.

The yacht “Banshee” pictured c1912.

The first of two photographs of “Banshee” taken at the same location. You can see the top of a derelict mill in the background and, again, this is a narrow stretch of waterway. In the 1916 edition of Blakes Yachting List “Banshee” was described as being “the very latest of the small boats” and was one of four in the Pirate class of 29ft 4in, four ton sloops. It was advertised as sleeping up to five persons with three berths in the cabin, one on the floor of the cabin and one on the floor under the awning in the well. There was also a cot in the forepeak for an attendant if required. A portable WC was included amongst the fittings. It must have been rather cosy with six on board!

“Banshee” was listed as being available to hire from Wroxham in 1916, but later editions list it as being one of H.C. Banhams fleet at Horning “near Wroxham”, so I presume it was indeed built by Banhams. The cost for a week’s hire in August 1916 was £4 10 shillings plus an extra £1 10 shillings if you required the services of an attendant.

Another unidentified trading wherry, making passage with the assistance of a quant pole.

I think that this may be the pleasure wherry “Reindeer”, although “Wroxham” is the only part of the name board that is visible. Reindeer was described as being “one of the best fitted Wherries on the Broads”, slept ten persons in four cabins and cost £14 4 shillings to hire for a week in August 1916.

The sailing cruiser “Melody” which was advertised as being “similar” to the Pirate class but was a little smaller at 24ft in length. It does look very much like “Banshee” and was presumably another one from H.C. Banham’s fleet at Horning.

Another lovely photograph of the boating party with “Melody”.

An unknown location on the Norfolk Broads c1912, but the narrowness of the river suggests the upper reaches of perhaps the Bure or the Waveney.

The final three photographs from the set are very interesting as they show a pair of racing launches on the Broads, probably on the River Waveney near Oulton Broad c1912.  It’s difficult to identify the launch on the left, but it may have been “Cordon Rouge” which was built for Howard Hollingsworth, the philanthropic retail magnate and Lowestoft resident who later commissioned the building of the wherry Ardea by Leo Robinson.