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©  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

Broadland Memories is a “not for profit” website - all proceeds received from the sale of these DVD’s goes towards the running costs of the webiste and maintaining the archive. The video clips below are enbedded from the Broadland Memories YouTube channel where you will find other historic footage of the Norfolk Broads which has been bought by or donated to the Broadland Memories Archive along with links to old cine films of Broadland which have been uploaded by other YouTube users.

Shot on 16mm cine film in the early 1930s, this amateur footage follows one family’s holidays afloat on the Norfolk Broads and captures a typical family boating holiday of the era. Whilst providing a fascinating glimpse into the past, the film also documents some of the buildings, bridges and working drainage mills of Broadland which are now long gone.

Beginning their holidays from Herbert Woods boatyard at Potter Heigham, the family hired the motor cruisers “Spark of Light” in 1932 and “Countess of Light” in 1933, both of which feature prominently in the footage. From arrival at the yard to their return at the end of the week, the film follows the family as they cover much the northern and southern rivers of The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. The film includes some wonderful scenes of the Broads Haven yard at Potter Heigham along with footage of Horning, Wroxham, Coltishall, the River Ant, Horsey and the Upper Thurne, Acle, Great Yarmouth, Breydon Water, Oulton Broad, Beccles, Geldeston, Haddiscoe, Reedham and Cantley.

The family’s day to day life on board, the buying of provisions and the topping up with water from the village hand-pumps were all filmed and provide a wonderful record of how a boating holiday was conducted in the 1930s. The footage is presented in it’s entirety, with a soundtrack of typical music from the era,  and includes a short introduction. Whilst the boats and the scenery may have changed, the film shows that the essence of a boating holiday on the Broads remains the same today as it was 80 years ago!

You can view a short trailer of clips from the film by clicking on the video box on the right - to view in full screen just click on the button on the far right at the bottom of the box. More stills from the film and a complete scene by scene synopsis can be found on the Broadland Memories Blog over a series of eight consecutive parts - start at Part One and then follow the links at the top or bottom of the page through parts 2-8.

Broadland Memories DVD’s

Boating on the Norfolk Broads in the 1930s  - £10.00 inc. UK P&P

running time 45 minutes approx.

Currently Unavailable

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