Pictured upstream of Horning Ferry with pleasure houseboats, motor launches and a wherry, tethered up in between the working ferry windpump, mid 1920s.
Photograph via Rita Massingham nee Chamberlin.
MISTY MORN was a grand pleasure houseboat designed in the standard rectangular block pattern. The roof doubled as a spacious top deck for entertainment and sun lounging ~ note the person laying on cushions, engaged in conversation with a shipmate. Later, she was towed up river to King's Staithe, Hoveton and was let out by Mr Ben Jordan of Belaugh.
Upstream is a smaller houseboat converted from a ship's lifeboat. It's not unusual for boats to possess romantic or funny names. 'WINNIE' was a customary cabin houseboat, named after the enchanting character of literature penned by Alan Alexander Milne ~ Winnie~the~Pooh, a yellow furry bear who resides with his friends in Hundred Acre Wood.
The clapboarded wind powered smock mill was built in 1880 by the millwright family England of Ludham. Windpumps decanted water from the low lying marshes ~ mechanisation of water levels maintained dry grazing meadows for cattle. Inevitably, in later years, with tourism increasing, the draining of marshland led to pockets of Broadland being consumed by development.
A big load of marsh hay is stacked high on the bank, next to the black tarred shed. The fibre rich hay is likely ready to be carted away, or more probably shipped by barge to towns down river, where it was used as horse forage food.
Alfred Turner's Boatyard was established behind the windmill. From here in the early 1950s, Heather entered the chartering business as a stationary holiday houseboat; until she was discarded for being 'old fashioned' in 1985.
One of the characterful senior assistants and a great river lover who worked at Wroxham Launch Hire in the 2000s, was affectionately known as John 'Windpump' Bailey.
Scarlet, Andrew, Chris
“Rivers know this: There is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”
Winnie~the~Pooh
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