Designed & maintained by Carol Gingell

©  C.Gingell 2006-2026  All photographs, personal stories and written articles on this site are copyright and should not be reproduced anywhere else without the permission of the copyright owner and Broadland Memories.

© Broadland Memories 2006-2026

Page  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

More of Donald Shields photographs from 1903

Towing the boat!

St. Benet’s Abbey on the River Bure, pictured in 1903.

This cottage was also photographed by  John Payne Jennings in the 1890s - he identified as being located in Horsey Dyke.

Following on from the previous picture, this looks like it could be somewhere on the upper Thurne, heading towards Hickling or Horsey.

Two gentlemen rowing at an unknown location in 1903, their female companion is facing forward and steering the boat using rudder ropes.

A thatched, waterside summerhouse at an unknown location.

Moored at an unknown location in 1903, the crew appear to be shelling peas for their meal.

Fishing at another unknown location in 1903. Note the old phonograph propped up on the cabin roof and the pile of wax cylinders to run on it sitting beside the boat. As there was no volume control on the early phonographs and gramophones, it was not surprising that notes were being made in guide books by the 1920s to remind visitors that loud music should be kept down at night. It just goes to show that the problems of mooring next to a noisy boating party is not necessarily a modern phenomenon!

The River Thurne, looking downstream from Potter Heigham Bridge in 1903. Several wherry masts can be seen along the riverbanks.

Swimming at an unknown location in 1903.

This strange little houseboat features in quite a few of Donald’s photographs and was equipped with a small sail on top and a large set of oars.

Another of the crew poses for Donald’s camera in 1903. The houseboat looks very much like those used by eel catchers.

Time for some liquid refreshment! Archie Shields can be seen pouring from the large, stone bottle.

I believe that this is South Walsham, taken from the bank on the inner broad, looking back towards the outer broad. The circular island you can see is still there today, although smaller in size. A steam boat can be seen on the right, probably taking passengers out for a day trip.

Archie Shields, pictured on the right, with unknown companions in 1903.

An unknown wildfowler and his dog, pictured in 1903.

Another wonderful photograph of the wildfowler with his companion.

Archie Shields on the left. It seems that everyone smoked in one form or another in 1903!

The Swan Inn at Horning pictured in 1903. The pleasure wherry in the foreground is “Dragon” who was launched in 1901 and owned, at this time, by the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company. More about Dragon can be found elsewhere in the archive. The pleasure wherry moored behind is possibly “Victory”.

Another photograph taken at the same time.

Another picture of the houseboat with the crew busily washing up.

This is believed to have been taken from the hill above the eastern edge of Salhouse Broad, looking across the River Bure towards Hoveton Great Broad which can be seen in the background.

A photograph taken at Ranworth in 1903. The Maltsters Inn can be seen on the left with Malthouse Broad in the background.

An unknown location, but could possibly be Ranworth village in 1903?

A wonderfully atmospheric image of the houseboat taken at an unknown location.

1900-1949 Photo Gallery