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© Broadland Memories 2006-2026

Page  11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

1950s Photo Gallery

The fifth set of photos from the albums featuring holidays during the 1950s on Herbert Woods motor cruisers continues with the photographer returning to The Broads in 1955 as part of an all male group.

B62 “Ring of Light” swinging on the mudweight in 1955, with some of the crew seen aboard.

Hickling Pleasure Boat Inn moorings with the pub seen in the background. The boat facing us was one of Herbert Woods 24ft, three berth “Delight” class but I cannot make out the registration number. In the mid-1950s, a week’s hire cost £35 during the peak summer weeks.

One of Herbert Woods “Fine Lady” class leaves the Pleasure Boat Dyke at Hickling. (Thanks to Mat Gravener for providing an identification)

“Fine Lady” heads out across Hickling Broad in 1955.

One of Jack Powles fleet – this looks like one of the 30ft, four berth “Westward” class to me which could be hired with, or without, an auxiliary engine at this time.  It was £4 - £5 cheaper to hire without the Stuart Turner engine.

Sailing on the Broads in 1955 – unknown location.

Two of the holiday party in the sailing dinghy which was included within the hire cost – note the Toblerone chocolate bar packet in the foreground.

Fishing from “Ring of Light” at, what looks like, Gay’s Staithe at Irstead. The cottage in the background was once the home of wherryman John Gay who was born in 1828. In more recent years, it has been available to hire as a very luxurious holiday home.

A misty morning angle from the dinghy – this may also have been taken at Gay’s Staithe.

This looks to have been taken on Barton Broad as the holiday party are heading in or out of the cut leading to Neatishead and Gay’s Staithe, looking over to the main Broad.

Turf Fen Mill on the River Ant, opposite How Hill. The mill was built c1875 by the Great Yarmouth millwright William Rust but was in a dilapidated state by the mid-1950s, having ceased working in the early 1940s. It was restored over a three year period between 1984 and 1987.

Unidentified river cruiser, pictured in 1955.

Approaching the Anchor Hotel at Coltishall which was still under the ownership of the Norwich based Morgan’s Brewery at this time. A 1953 advert for the hotel listed John and Mary Hollis as proprietors and it boasted having “The largest private moorings on the Broads.” Facilities included a bowling green, a range of boats for hire and free dancing in the Wherry Bar every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Visitors were also urged to try the “famous” Chain Locker Bar – “Norfolk’s unique bar serving the largest variety of drinks in the county.”

“Ring of Light” - this looks as though it could also have been taken at Gay’s Staithe.

Another shot of “Ring of Light” taken at the same location as the previous image. It looks as though there may be a section of rowing boats for hire in the foreground.

A busy river scene – is this possibly taken on the southern rivers I wonder.

Approaching Oulton Broad Yacht Station. Many have fond memories of the harbour master of the time, Bill Solomon who was always said to have a “twinkle” in his eye and who always had a local tale or two for holidaymakers. He perpetuated the story of the ghostly wherry “Mayfly” and its murderous skipper, Captain “Blood” Stevenson, which could, supposedly, be seen heading out of Oulton Broad on the night of the 23rd of June every year. In 1955, the Yacht Station’s facilities included ladies and gents’ lavatories, bathrooms and restrooms, along with rooms for drying and airing wet clothing etc. The neighbouring Nicholas Everitt Park also had baths, an open-air swimming pool, tennis courts, bowling green, bandstand and children’s playground.

“Ring of Light” alongside the moorings at Geldeston Lock. The inn was a former lock keepers’ cottage and was under the proprietorship of Susan Ellis at this time. The building was the former lock keeper’s cottage and had, in past times, been a favoured place for illegal, bare knuckle fighting due to its position on the Norfolk and Suffolk border. The pub was in Norfolk and, if the local police arrived, the fighters would hop across the river to the opposite bank which was under Suffolk jurisdiction.

Approaching the rail swing bridge and viaduct which crossed Breydon Water. Built by the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway Company, construction of the viaduct began in 1899 and it was opened in 1903, connecting Great Yarmouth Beach Station with the Great Eastern Line’s South Town Station at Gorleston. It was closed to rail traffic in September 1953 as it was thought that costly repairs were needed - these were deemed to be economically unviable. It was left standing for ten years before finally being demolished in 1963 when it was then sold for scrap, although the pilings were left in situ until the building of the Breydon Road Bridge in the 1980s.

Cruising upstream from Yarmouth on the Lower Bure. On the left is Mautby Marsh Farm drainage mill which stands near Four Mile House. Clearly in a derelict state at this time, it had been replaced by an oil powered pump in 1919, which was housed in the building seen in the foreground and funded by the Great Yarmouth based Lacons brewery. The mill itself was later converted into a holiday home with a single storey extension built on the side.

A second photograph taken at the same location, as the sailing cruiser passes “Ring of Light.”

A little further upstream on the Bure, the holiday party pass the drainage mill at Six Mile House.

Returning to Potter Heigham at the end of the holiday – the cruiser ahead is B69 “King of Light” which was one of the 42ft, seven berth “Queen of Light” class from Herbert Woods.

Moored opposite the Broads Haven Yard at Potter Heigham, the Bridge Hotel can be seen in the background on the right. A contemporary advert listed a Mrs Guest as the proprietor of the hotel which offered full accommodation and board, meals in the restaurant, teas on the lawn and an ice cream bar.

Many holidaymakers still travelled to and from the Broads by train and the last two photographs were presumably taken en-route.

The final photograph from 1955 was also taken during the train journey home. As with other photographs from this era, our holidaymakers were rather smartly dressed for the journeying side of things, changing into more casual attire suited for boating once they arrived.