Timeless Vintage Boats ~ The Vintage Wooden Boat Association

A stylish 1930's motor yacht leaving the Free Moorings
at Hoveton St John

We recently attended the Annual General Meeting of the Vintage Wooden Boat Association at Acle.

After Heather became surplus to the requirements of Colin Facey Boats (Turners Boatyard) at Horning in the early 1980s, the boat was moved across to a dyke on the opposite side of the River Bure. Thankfully Broadsman John Royal Esq noticed her laying forlorn here and managed to save Heather before she was cut up and burnt ~ houseboats were becoming unfashionable!

John Royal and a band of other enthusiasts witnessed the fast disappearing unique maritime heritage on both the Broads and around the islands of Britain and realised that action had to be taken. They embarked on establishing the Vintage Wooden Boat Association (VWBA).

The Association was founded to promote the use, maintenance and restoration of wooden boats. It is open to all wooden boats of any age. Heather attended some of the early pioneering rallies staged at the Ferry Boatyard, Horning.

Heritage vessels are part and parcel of the UK's cultural landscape and deserve to be safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. Strangely, Britain's water craft receive no statutory protection from government.

If you have a vintage boat or would like to help the VWBA, please do contact the friendly administration team of the Association. www.vwba.org

Yes, Bure Commissioner

A very special motor launch with uncannily similar teak upper works to Heather requires new owners to care for her. 'BURE JACK' is an original Bure Commissioner's launch built in the 1920's by Ernest L Woods. Bure Jack, Broads Registration number B 277 has a forward drive helm in a spacious open well and a splendid cabin with ample settee berths. 

Each Broadland river had an individual patrol launch and dedicated River Commissioner, later Inspector. A sister WENSUM Commissioners' launch is proudly on display at the Museum of the Broads at Stalham. These 'old school' official craft were so perfectly suited to the waterways, they remained in service until the mid 1970's; when they were replaced with glass reinforced plastic launches, moulded from River Thames examples. It is debatable which are superior for looks, handling, practicality and economy. Although the new replacement launches, operated by the Broads Authority since 1988, lack some facilities on board.

Some say the ethos of 'Rangers' (as American national parks officers are so called), differs from that of the honourable River Commissioners. Resplendent in their uniform of a peaked cap and double breasted blazer with brass buttons, the Commissioners respectable character usually displayed genuine authority with care, knowledge and humour. They were often recruited by the board of the Great Yarmouth & Port Haven Commissioners (1670 ~ 1988) from retired ex service personnel. 

Bure Jack is a fine example of Broads floating heritage, still laying on the 'weedy Bure', immortalised in Sir John Benjamin's renowned 'Norfolk' poem. She is a member of the UK Vintage Wooden Boat Association.

For the particulars of ML Bure Jack please see www.topsail.co.uk/boat.php?refnum=1622

A matter of taste

Heather laying on the old King's Head Hotel Moorings, 

Hoveton St John

Sadly not everyone shares our enthusiasm for vintage boats. As a consequence the Broads Authority has allegedly received complaints concerning the location of Heather's present mooring. The Authority therefore has a duty to investigate complaints and deal with possible breaches of planning.

'For the traveller in search of the English Heritage, the county is a paradise.' Arthur Mee on Norfolk

The Ongoing Saga of Heather's Mooring

In the the adjacent cut with her winter awning 'jacket' on 

We are currently facing difficult times. The unique landscape of  the Broads waterways is presently managed by the Broads Authority, who are responsible for all planning. Heather's current home berth is under threat, despite our mooring her here intermittently over several years and having the landowner's full permission.

King's Staithe in the late afternoon sun

Earlier in the year, research uncovered from North Norfolk District Council (the original planning authority for Hoveton St John) proved that the King's Head Hotel quayside is listed as 'Private/Public Moorings'. Unfortunately the current planning body, the Broads Authority have failed to recognise our findings and persist, without evidence with the view that these moorings are of 'historical 24 hour visitor use only'.

The Broads Authority's approach is clearly impacting on the future mooring of Heather. We have recently been asked to remove her by Authority officers.

Heather therefore has some challenging times ahead. We will keep you posted on further developments.

New Houseboat Narrative

HEATHER

National Small Boat Registration No: 1440

Heather is a surviving traditional houseboat, laying on the Broads waterways since the early twentieth century. On her doorstep are 200 miles of rivers, part of the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads ~ the largest protected wetland in the UK.

Originally a dumb flush decked work barge built in the Netherlands using Indonesian teak; the boat is believed to have been first launched around 1900 and propelled manually by the use of oars.

She was later converted 'yacht fashion' into a pleasure houseboat for a gentleman artist in the 'golden 1920's' by Ernest L Woods at Horning. The decks of the barge were recycled to make the original cabin.

Heather became a holiday hire boat in the 1950's, laying at Turner's Boatyard, near the Ferry in Horning, for approximately thirty years.

The Houseboat is in the process of being conserved and restored. The all over awning sometimes covering her is necessary to protect the boat from the elements.

This curious boat reflects the heritage of the Broads landscape. She will be on display for guests to board (by arrangement) and see her simple panelled cabins. 


HELP HEATHER

• Did you stay on board or know Heather when she was let at Turner's Boatyard? We would really like to hear your memories.

• We are seeking essential period objects to complete the authentic appearance of the houseboat, including an original enamel, multi~fuel 'Courtier' stove or similar, oil lanterns and furnishings.

Please contact Andrew or Chris

ENQUIRIES

EMAIL: houseboat-heather@live.co.uk

The narrative or 'squit' as we say in Norfolk took ages to complete.

Updated on 14th February 2012

Detail of the After bulkhead, gleaming with fresh coats of wood stain

Heather is composed chiefly of tropical timber, principally wonderful teak. Some of the original teak hull and decks of the Dutch work barge were reclaimed and integrated into the upper works of the new houseboat; undertaken by the boat builders, at Ernest L Woods yard, at Horning in the late 1920's.

The picture above shows some of the tongued and grooved teak boards flanking the mahogany panelled door. Heather's teak may have origins in Indonesia, or the Dutch East Indies, as this large group of islands was known in the nineteenth century. Elephants were known to transport the teak from the forests down to the saw yards. As with most aspects of the houseboat, it is a mystery!

With thanks to Nigel Royall Esq.

If anybody can help us uncover her hidden history, we would love to hear from you.

Macmillan Coffee Morning

Still trying to blog in chronological order, though we are quite used to 'muddling in muddy waters'.

The crew, composing of Jill, Jason, Andrew and Chris, held a second annual Coffee Morning for Macmillan Cancer Care at the Bridge Restaurant in Wroxham. The Restaurant hosted the event. Despite the glorious weather, the day wasn't as successful as last year when we were stationed in Granary Dike; yet it poured with rain and there were high gales. 

Several supporters of the mock 'water gypsies' of Heather turned out for the Coffee Morning. Oddly enough, the phrase 'water gypsy', a term of either abuse or endearment, was thought to have been used as the title of a popular west end musical show of the 1920's.

During the summer months, this part of the river is like a motorway, evidenced by the the much bashed bridge. Sadly, many of those using day launches have little respect for the speed limit, are they in a race?

The livery of Macmillan, with green balloons and canny publicity blended happily with Heather's colours. We must have been one of the smallest coffee mornings in the world. 

After we risk assessed the situation, Andrew & Chris hooked this aged Roy's Stores shopping trolley feature out of the river. It was just off the end of the quay where it could have damaged boats. With the green luminous weed growth on the metal work, it turned into a work of art, well to Chris anyway - but he is 'off his trolly'. What did the ever present trolley stewards in Hoveton & Wroxham think when they collected this one?

One of Heather's occasional mascots, Beckie pictured on the sun deck. We wound up the gramophone (pictured on the after end) and played some of the latest hits.

'Nowt but trouble'

Heather broadside, laying at the Bridge Restaurant quay, Wroxham, October 2011. 

Over the last few years, Heather has found herself in some troubled waters surrounding where she can legitimately berth. Planning law is complex and the Broads Authority have a different approach from the original and noble Great Yarmouth Port & Haven Commissioners, who maintained the navigable rivers when Heather was initially commissioned as a custom 'houseboat' in the 1920's.

Heather, laying at the King's Head Moorings, Hoveton St John

Following major restoration works at Royall & Sons Boatyard, Hoveton (please see Royall's Blog), the Houseboat returned in the late September sun to the ancient Private/Public Mooring of the King's Head, Hoveton St John ~ 'The Gateway Village of the Broads'. Upstream from the historic Wroxham road bridge, along Hoveton Riverside Walk is Heather's present home, beside the old oak tree.

The King's Head Staithe, as this site is properly known, is where the pioneering Broadland boat builder, John Loynes, established one of the first organised hire boat facilities on the Broads in the 1870's. At this time much of the surrounding landscape was undeveloped marsh, with simple agricultural cottages dotted around the medieval bridge. There are remains of an adjoining cattle crossing and watering place, just above the bridge.

Our hosts at the King's Head Hotel provide enticing refreshments for locals and visitors alike. One can sit indoors or outside in the extensive grounds to enjoy the wildlife and watercraft glide along the bountiful River Bure.

Just arrived, with the starboard side concealed with the awning. The new sign of the King's Head is to the right. The railway bridge is in the left background.

Further information coming soon.