A series of wonderfully detailed archive photographs have come to light, showing the idyllic Hoveton riverside, below Wroxham Bridge, shortly before ~ bigger scale, more urban redevelopment took place. It was a time of major change. New piling technology meant larger, heavier buildings could replace the smaller, lightweight timber and metal structures. Glass reinforced plastic was beginning to feature in boat building at the yards ~ ultimately replacing most of the ancient hands on building skills used in the crafting of timber boats. As land management practices developed, once open green marshland, with rhond banks were enclosed with hard edged quay heading boards and planted areas were covered over.
The pictures were taken by Alan Bedwell, when on a family holiday as a boy in 1964.
Nigel, Chris
The pictures were taken by Alan Bedwell, when on a family holiday as a boy in 1964.
Looking up river towards the bridge from Riverside Road.
Typical rural~industrial scene, looking across to Windboats, Wroxham from Riverside Road, Hoveton.
The fine rusticated villa Bure Court Hotel.
Looking toward Ralph English's house and Ted Burton's yard on the Rhond from Royall's boatyard on Riverside Road. The next property on the right of Ted's was owned by Jeckells.
The boat in the foreground is Chris Royall's Y81 WILLING BOYS, an ex Gorleston Four Oared Salvage Boat that was built around 1903 and purchased by Chris in 1946. His son Ernie converted her from a pulling~sailing boat to a motor launch in the Carrow Works Section boathouse, up Brandford Dyke at the back of the football pitch at Carrow.
WILLING BOYS was brought round to Hoveton from King Street, Norwich in 1961 and has remained here ever since.
Nigel, Chris
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