For me this is the best part of the day on the Broads. It’s an early summer morning and the crew are beginning to emerge on deck, in a leisurely fashion, to absorb the tranquillity and the sounds and smells of the waterside country. Perhaps the aroma of cooking bacon too, whilst they await their breakfast? The only thing missing is that lovely atmospheric mistiness over the water that appears until the sun has risen sufficiently to burn it away. I love that. Of course there is an element of conjecture in this assumption as to the time of day but I couldn’t resist a little lyrical waxing inspired by the scene. Sorry...
This card also appears on the Home Page as Card of the Month for June 2018 where I explain why I didn’t include it in this group until I was reasonably sure that it was a J. Valentine original; like the others.
Copyright J. Salmon Ltd., Sevenoaks, Kent ©
Just a few doors down from the earlier site of Spashett’s Stationery Shop premises in London Road North, Lowestoft (see the Beccles article below) was the photographer’s shop of Ford Jenkins. The Jenkins’ family were involved in various types of photography including Studio Portraiture at their shops. They also photographed sports events, such as regattas, and covered news worthy events such as fire and flood and notably damage caused during the 1st World War. Of course the Jenkins’ also produced Real Photo Postcards. Both father and son liked to picture images of the local fishing industry but it seems that it was more often Ford who enjoyed picturing the sailing events .
Very often seaside resort photographers also took pictures of the holiday visitors on the promenade for later sale to those individuals; bearing in mind that camera ownership was by no means universal in the early days. I imagine that Harry Jenkins was the most likely to have employed this practice from his base near to the harbour.
In any event Photography was very much the Jenkins family business. Harrold Jenkins was working from premises at Pier Terrace in the early 20th Century. His father Henry and his brother Frederick were also photographers; the latter being based at Southwold where he also produced postcards. The few that I have seen depict local news events. Meanwhile Ford Jenkins took over the Lowestoft business after the 1939-45 War and moved to the London Road North premises. Later Ford’s son Peter joined the family firm and carried on the business.
I have only discovered
a few postcards by Ford Jenkins and, up to now, just one pre-war example credited to
his father Harry. They are of very high quality and, for me, are reminiscent of
the work of Edward Bodmer who was also working in the Lowestoft district around
the same time as Ford Jenkins. (Some of Edward’s work is shown above) Apart from
similarities in their styles and subject matter I cannot yet prove any professional
link between Edward and Ford but I am sure they must have been known to one
another.
Copyright Ford Jenkins
This is a
typical example of Ford Jenkin’s postcards which demonstrates his preference,
where possible for elevated viewpoints; possibly from Waller’s Restaurant or an open topped bus in
this case? It is difficult to date the card precisely. The outer pontoon opened
about 1935 but I would say this was more likely around 1950 when the Broads
were open again; following the War. In the Yacht Station are mainly old
fashioned motorboats and the usual scattering of ‘Gentleman’s Motor Yachts’ that
were regularly moored here. The only recognisable hire cruisers are a pair of
Heart’s boats from Thorpe St. Andrew and I think that the large, many windowed,
boat at the jetty is actually a trip boat. There are a number of sails in
evidence and I imagine it is the occasion of a regatta or maybe just some of
the regular club racing. It seems to me a little odd that the yacht in the
centre of the moorings is an International ‘Star’, an Olympic racing keel
boat class which is still popular today. What’s he doing pootling around in the yacht
station I wonder? It’s a bit like finding a Ferrari in Sainsbury's car park; maybe
they’re just killing a little time before the start of their next race?
Copyright Ford Jenkins
I particularly like this composition by Ford Jenkins and it is included as an example of his work rather than (strictly) a view from the Norfolk Broads. It is principally of interest in the context of local postcard publishers and it seems that Ford Jenkins had a particular interest in photographing the local sailing; often taking to the water to do so. Again this is the Royal Norfolk & Suffolk Yacht Club headquarters at Lowestoft Harbour and it is my feeling that the photographer may well have been a member there.
The crews
are busy rigging their yachts for an inshore race outside the harbour. The
yachts are of the International Dragon class which was an Olympic racing class
until the early 1970’s; so not quite as long lived as the ‘Star’ class referred
to above. I am intrigued by the crew member by the mast there. As far as I can
tell he appears to be wearing a Cassock and given the club’s illustrious record
of success in this class one might wonder if a greater power was being called
upon to bless their future chances? I'm only joking, I can't even be certain it is a cassock but the helmsman's posture also seems highly appropriate!
Copyright H. Jenkins Ltd.
It must be said that postcards by Ford Jenkins are pretty hard to come by but Broadland views by his father, Harry, are even rarer and this is the only example I have discovered, to date. However, although it is marked as H. Jenkins Ltd., bearing in mind the subject matter, and its vintage, I suppose that it’s possible that Harry didn’t actually take this photograph; it could be an early example by his son? Harry would have been in his seventies by this time but I think that he was really more concerned with his studio and journalistic studies and I have seen several excellent examples of his work which record the events of the Lowestoft bombardment in 1916. Regrettably of course those would not fall within the remit of this web-site or my collection.
Naturally we tend to think more of 1939-1945 when it comes to bombing and aerial invasion of our island home but during the 1914-1918 War there was intense tactical competition for Naval supremacy within the North Sea and English Channel. Part of the German tactics was to bombard certain east coast English ports by Zeppelin attacks and heavy shelling from their warships; whilst they were briefly stationed just offshore. What became known as the Lowestoft Bombardment was intended to create tactical damage to military installations at both Gt. Yarmouth and Lowestoft but apparently the primary objective was to surprise and gain an advantage over the superior British fleet. I don’t believe that particular plan quite came together on this occasion.
Back to the postcard: I must say that I really enjoy the composition of this view with the jetty and motor cruiser leading the eye to the yacht and providing an excellent focal point. In the background the new Yacht Station pontoon is in place which indicates the view is likely to date from the late 1930’s. I particularly like the graceful lines of the yacht which is head to wind and coming alongside the jetty. Given her Topsail and Cutter rig I think she is most likely a privately owned example of what is known as the River Cruiser class nowadays and is probably here for some racing or just a family cruise.
It seems to me increasingly common that I can be confused by certain details I observe these days but what is that man, on the left, doing with his mast? Surely he’s not going to lower it with his cabin roof raised or vice versa and why would he need to in this location anyway? Maybe some problem with his flag halyards? .… it beats me!
Here’s yet another happy summer scene at the Yacht Station. This one dates from around 1960. The nearby cabin cruiser appears to be one of the smaller (32’) centre cockpit craft from the Windboats yard at Wroxham. Graham Bunn took great pride in the presentation and specifications of his fleet and the boats for hire from Windboats were regularly updated. Initially this particular generation were all presented with varnished hardwood hulls. Just the same, private customers could specify white painted hulls in softwood to save on costs. Such white hulled boats did not appear on hire from other firms until around this time. Although the Windboats business had actually changed hands, some years earlier, their original varnished boats were still in hire from Wroxham and the newly acquired Wayford boatyard.
The example in this picture doesn’t give the impression of a privately owned craft so I would guess that she is probably from one of the two yards who did hire out a few boats that answered this description? Those other yards were Tidecraft at Brundall and A. J. Yaxley at Belaugh. The ladies appear to be having a jolly time, interacting with the little boy and the photographer. Meanwhile father is enjoying a spot of fishing with what looks to me like a most unsuitable rod for these waters?
The little yacht looks like a local’s boat but beyond her are (appropriately) a ‘Jolly Days’ class, five berth from F.B. Wilds at Horning. A class from this firm’s early mahogany cabin cruisers that pre-dated their development of the GRP ‘Caribbean’ and ‘Bermudan’ classes; which so influenced Broads designs, even up to the present day. Of course the latter were initially anathema to the wooden boat purist but no one can deny their ease of access and practicality for all weather cruising?
Here's another recent addition to my Spashett collection. It’s a simple but well composed card which I enjoy but that also intrigues me somewhat? The location again appears to be on Oulton Dyke, in the vicinity of Fisher Row just off Oulton Broad. This time the scene is set looking, to the West, across the dyke and over the marshes so that, in the distance, St. Mary’s Church and the Waveney Hotel can just be seen; at Burgh St. Peter by the main River Waveney. It took me a while, and a good map, to orientate the fisher’s location as just on the Oulton side of the big bend in the dyke so if any visitor cares to offer other opinion I will be glad to share their thoughts. Please remember that this is an early view. The pinnacle atop the church tower was still in place and the covering of Ivy had not yet developed.
That was a bit of a brain teaser for me but it wasn’t the intriguing factor that I referred to earlier. I have never confirmed any pictures of the Spashett family themselves but it is very likely that all the pictures were taken by members of that family and Harry took credit for some at Lowestoft and all of the later (Beccles) examples. So could this group of anglers actually comprise of the Spashett siblings? Obviously that cannot be proven but I am intrigued by the man in the white hat, who is looking toward the photographer. I have already expressed a theory that the young man in two of the Beccles pictures could be Harry’s son and he was helping his father by appearing in the photograph. When I look at the above view there is something in the slightly round shouldered posture of the nearest fisherman that reminds me very much of that young man at Beccles. See for yourself. Am I imagining things or could this be the young Harry Spashett himself?
Postcard by Spashett & Co. Lowestoft
Another of the early Spashett publications which I have had in my collection for a little while now. I imagine it is quite a well known image because I have seen it in several publications, although there is a tendency to crop out the titles of cards like this; in books. The trading wherry setting off, under sail and quant and loaded to her ‘binns’, is fairly easily identified as ‘Meteor’ as her name plates are largely visible. She was one of two wherries owned by Samuel Barnes of Surlingham; on the River Yare near Brundall. ‘Meteor’ would make regular deliveries of coal from Lowestoft to Barnes’ premises by the Surlingham Ferry House Hotel. The firm also had a second Wherry the ‘Herald’ but I cannot say with certainty that she is that which we see here, still alongside. That Wherry’s masthead colours (which denote the owner) are not sufficiently clear.
Like the other Lowestoft cards, above: One might suggest that this picture dates from around the time of the 1914 to 1918 War because ‘Meteor’ later changed hands and was given the new name ‘Lord Kitchener’ after the Field Marshall who very famously featured in the “Your Country Needs You” recruitment posters. It was seen as a national tragedy when he lost his life, amongst many hundreds of others, aboard H.M.S. Hampshire in 1916. The ship struck a mine and quickly sank, in very heavy seas, near the Orkney Islands. She was en-route to the Russian port of Arkhangelsk, shortly after the Battle of Jutland, for diplomatic meetings between Lord Kitchener and our Russian allies.
I had seen this picture in the 1998 book, “Back to the Broads” by David Holmes of How Hill but did not realise it was a Spashett postcard until I acquired my own copy. I could not say for certain that it is the actual copy (used in the book) but, believe it or not, that has happened a couple of times in the past. Having received the card I was intrigued by the impression that some writing appears to have been obliterated in the bottom left hand corner. This must have been done by the original publisher as, with hindsight, the same feature can be seen in David’s copy. Perhaps the original caption was misplaced on the negative, rejected by the publisher and consequently brushed out by the photo-printers?
This card is also a little intriguing because it appears to be something of a missing link in the history of this publisher. To date I have discussed two distinct phases in my Spashett collection: Earlier than 1934 when the publisher was listed as Spashett & Co. Lowestoft, or similar, and the period after that date when Harry Spashett relocated to Beccles and published under his own name; for the next thirty years. The card is un-posted but it has a handwritten endorsement, on the reverse, with the date: 30.7.13. I would have said that the scene contains nothing that would lead me to doubt that date but after further consideration I am somewhat conflicted.
Putting that aside for the moment: my reference to a missing link relates to the fact that the publisher’s mark states: “Photographed by H.A. Spashett, Lowestoft” with no reference to Spashett & Co. or Spashett’s Ltd. as is usually the case. So could this be an example of Harry’s earliest self publications; or just credit for his photographic efforts? I do not believe his accredited Beccles pictures commenced until after 1934 but the publisher’s style of this card is clearly contemporary with the Lowestoft series.
And so: onto the picture, which shows the River Waveney a little upstream of Saint Mary’s Church. Two yachts are present in this picture that (despite its age) are relatively easy to identify; because they are both very well known. The principal yacht is Ernest Collins’ ‘Iverna’ a very stylish Victorian yacht built by Robert Collins and (probably) his eldest son Ernest in 1893. She is described as a ‘Cutter’ because of the very large staysail set to the end of her bow sprit. Latterly, such yachts would carry two smaller staysails (Jibs) set in tandem; which made them more versatile and easily handled by the crew. More recently, simpler ‘Sloop’ rigs were employed on Broads yachts after it became more popular for hirers to crew their own craft without the assistance of professional skippers.
Below is the 1926 Blakes’ Brochure page for ‘Iverna’ which shows that the yacht could be hired by six guests for the princely sum of £13.50p in the high season; including an attendant to sail the yacht for them.
In the postcard: the Motor Yacht ‘Enchantress’ can be seen moored just downstream and I it seems to me that some of the holiday makers wearing their ‘whites’ in the scene may well have been enjoying a cruise aboard that vessel. I have mentioned this craft on numerous occasions but there remains one small mystery that is maybe not completely clarified and which needs to be considered here. There was another similar vessel that operated from Oulton Broad in the early twentieth century. She was called ‘Viscountess Bury’ and she took day trippers for cruises on the Waveney.
The mystery surrounds conjecture that ‘Enchantress’ and ‘Viscountess Bury’ were one and the same. I do not believe that was the case but please bear with me on that. I believe that they were two different boats but it seems quite convincing that the vessel that came to be known as ‘Enchantress’ was at one time employed under the guise of ‘Viscountess Bury’ as a means to make her more of an attraction because the more famous launch had previously been under charter to, the Prince of Wales (Later Edward V11) on the River Thames. That original ‘Viscountess’ was fitted out as a luxurious motor yacht but was later converted to a trip boat. It was after this conversion that she was purchased by Herbert Banham for use on the River Cam. This was the location of his original boatyard, in Cambridge, where he was situated before he founded his well known business at Horning, around 1920. Thereafter his brother Alfred Banham managed the Cambridge business.
I am not sure to whom ‘Enchantress’ belonged when she was masquerading as the “Viscountess Bury” at Oulton Broad although I believe she was first purchased by one Henry Miller. I have also seen Leo Robinson postcards showing a vessel of that (latter) name and mentioning the Edward V11 connection. Here is a recently acquired example which is pretty damning evidence suggesting, that at the very least, Mr. Robinson perpetuated the deception?
It is plain to see that she is the vessel that became known as ‘Enchantress’ in the Robinson fleet and not the original ‘Viscountess’. On the other hand ‘Enchantress’ was not mentioned in the Robinson hire fleet until the early 1920’s. Of course, by that time she had been restored to luxury motor yacht specification for parties of up to ten guests . One might also hypothesise that since Herbert Banham (real owner of the Viscountess Bury) arrived on the Broads shortly after the Great War - that was probably when the deception was undone?
Here’s a
fascinating pair of views of Oulton Broad, from around 1924, which I have acquired
coincidently from different sources. Look carefully at the people in the picture and it becomes obvious that
the two pictures were taken within moments of one another and the photographer
must have walked past the people queuing, to hire boats, in order to take the
second view.
Postcard by Spashett & Co. Lowestoft
The same effect could be accomplished with a change of lens but I
am unsure how widely available long lenses were in the 1920’s? Or how quickly
they could be changed, for that matter. I suppose there is every possibility
that more than one camera was used? It is not so apparent but, like the previous Ford
Jenkins example, these photos seem to have been taken from an elevated
viewpoint. I am unsure how that was achieved. Possibly from an upstairs window at the 'Lady of the Lake'? I am also intrigued because, by
this time, a young Harry Spashett was taking some of the photographs for the family
firm and I can’t help wondering if these were an early inspiration for his
later views of Beccles Yacht Station? Certainly, the style of the first example reminds me, very much, of those later views.
The first postcard is a real photograph type whereas the borderless example, above, is a half-tone print. The original has a slightly sepia tone to it but I have filtered the image to make it more Black and White looking. Nevertheless, in either form, it doesn’t show the same level of contrast that the real photo achieves. I expect that this print is the economy version and Spashetts probably sold real-photo copies for a few pence more.
Clearly there have been a lot of changes since those days but the location is still very recognisable; as what became the Oulton Broad Yacht Station that we know today. As you might appreciate there won’t be any boat identities on this occasion but there is still plenty of interest in the scene to discuss. Both views centre on the activities at Jack Robinson’s quay although his little jetty has not yet appeared. Nevertheless Jack’s presence is evident in both views which helps with dating the cards. In fact I suspect that the figure at the office steps could well be Jack himself; never without his yachting cap! In the 1920’s Jack organised the small boats for hire here and established his own fleet of craft for holiday hire, mainly cabin cruisers. A few years later, he formed an alliance with Jenner’s of Thorpe, and a letting agency to rival the Blakes association was established. The ‘Broadland Yachting Association’ was based at Oulton Broad and things seem to have been going from strength to strength for a while. Tragically, in the mid 1930’s, Jack was to lose his life, prematurely. Following surgery for acute appendicitis Jack met an untimely death when things went wrong and he failed to recover from the anaesthetic. Blake’s bought up his business but shortly after War broke out and that was the end of the Broadland Yachting Association.
The scene is busy with water craft of all shapes and sizes: At the quay there appear to be two Houseboats. The nearest looks like a pleasure wherry but I am not sure that is the case, many conversions were based on generic double ended hulls and the proportions here do not appear, to me, as entirely wherry like? Then we have several Broads River Cruiser type yachts. A large example and what I would describe as a ‘skimming dish’ which carries a burgee similar to that of Jack Robinson. Beyond the latter is a Pleasure Wherry and a large Trading Wherry is lying to her mud weight just off shore. Perhaps she is one of the Samuel Barnes fleet from Surlingham waiting to collect a cargo of coal from the other side of Mutford Lock? There are also at least two other houseboats at anchor and, on the right, we can even see a couple of Lowestoft trawlers.
You might say that this is a slightly bland
photograph but there is just something about the lines of our boat that I find
very attractive? This is an example of one of the anonymous cards in this
series but I am confident that it is rightly included because the serial number
and location sits neatly between two others that are clearly endorsed as The
Bell Series, Leigh-on-Sea. The card is pre - first world war (c.1910) and shows
two nicely turned out Edwardian gentlemen having a gentle cruise in their lug
sailed half decker ‘Iceni’; near Barton Broad.
I have no proof but it seems to
me most likely that ‘Iceni’ (named after the Ancient Britannic tribe associated
with East Anglia) was on hire from the nearby firm of Southgate Brothers at Stalham;
or Sutton Staithe. At this time boats like this could be hired for as little as
25 to 30 shillings a week (£1.25 to £1.50) and use of an overall awning for
camping could be included; if so desired. The body language and positioning of
our crew does not suggest to me that they are experienced sailors and I am
reminded that it was very close to here that I had my very first experience
(i.e. attempt at) of sailing. That was over fifty years ago and I was armed
with no other instruction than that provided by reading about the Swallows and
Amazons or the Coot Club. It was a slightly windier day than this appears and
it wasn’t the most auspicious beginning but I did at least remain dry on that
occasion!
This is the yard at Sutton Staithe where Richard Southgate started his boat building business, in the 19th Century, and where his sons George and Edward carried on after Richard’s death in 1913. The brothers also ran their Yacht Hire business from Stalham Staithe up until 1938 shortly after the younger brother, Edward, died and George would have been about 70 years old by then. This would have been the location where our Edwardian gentlemen sailing ‘Iceni’ (above) had probably chartered their boat; just as two half deckers are being prepared for visitors on this day in the 1920’s.
In
the background can be seen a Wherry and a House boat, both pulled out.
The house boat looks familiar from pictures, I have seen, of Stalham
Staithe.
Here's a close-up because the Sign is not easily read on the full picture. That's almost certainly one of the brothers in the boat and although no name can be distinguished you can see that her lines are very similar to 'Iceni' in the previous postcard.
For a long time I have been intrigued by the question of whether or not the Southgate brothers were the same partners who set up the boatyard at Horning. That which was bought up by Herbert Woods’ 'Broadland Yachting Company' towards the end of World War II. That is to say, the boat sheds adjacent to the New Inn (that have survived the larger marina built near Swan corner by the Woods company) and which until fairly recently were the base of Mike Barnes’ Norfolk Broads Yachting Company. (Please see my photograph on the River Bure page)
I contacted Mike who provided the helpful information that those sheds were the replacement for Dick Southgate’s original premises in Horning which had burned down. This event had taken place at the very beginning of the war but was not as a result of the hostilities. Disastrously, several boats including YBOD number 1 ‘Fritillary’, which had been stored away for their safety, were destroyed in this fire.
Renewed researches revealed that Richard (Dick) Southgate was one of the earliest boat builders at Horning (certainly by 1891) and his younger brother William joined him some fifteen to twenty years later. Mike believes that there may be an extended family connection between Dick and William and the brothers from Sutton but I have been unable to prove any link, as yet. William Southgate died in 1942 and his older brother only survived him until the following year. I imagine that the premises were sold to Herbert Woods by Dick Southgate’s Widow some time after her bereavement.
Here is a brilliant card from around 1900, easily my earliest by Bells of Leigh-on-Sea; judging by the index number alone. Unfortunately, this time I won’t be able to tell the reader the names of the boats with any real confidence. Clearly this is the river front of John Loynes’ main premises at Wroxham and there is the man himself (centre left) looking over the large cutter yacht moored alongside. I get the impression that it is quite early on the morning of hand-overs and bed linen, water bottles and luggage have been readied for the departure and changeover. It’s almost as if one of the departing yachtsmen has paused to take one last photograph before setting out for home? An occasion always tinged with sadness in my day.
As I have said before: the problem with identifying early boats, such as these, when it comes to John Loynes’ fleet, is that many of the yachts were never illustrated in the Blake's holiday brochures and several of the larger cutters were grouped together, as a class. Despite this they were not identical and had differing lines, because their designs were improved upon over time. Just to make it more challenging I have found at least one example where two different boats have been named as one and the same in different years: i.e. ‘Victoria’- which might well be the larger white yacht in this picture? This anomaly may have come about because, in my experience, brochure photographs might be updated fairly often but it was rather less common to update the descriptions year on year.
Several of the larger (Loynes) yachts had white enamelled hulls and at least two had a varnished mahogany finish but this is not mentioned in the brochure descriptions. In any case Harry Blake’s brochures did not appear until 1908 and, as far as I can tell, John Loynes did not become a member of Blake’s ‘Broads Yacht Owners Association’ until after the 1st World War. I am aware that he produced his own boat catalogues, early on, but unfortunately I have only ever seen one in the Museum of the Broads and that was more of a flyer or pamphlet. In any case this photograph pre-dates both of the aforementioned events.
The little yacht in the foreground should be relatively easy but I only have written descriptions of Loynes’ smaller yachts for evidence. Based on those descriptions I think that she may well be the 3 Ton, Cutter ‘Plover’ a very simply furnished little yacht for two people. I am intrigued by the double curvature of her hull form which brings her planking to a point beneath her counter almost like a double ended hull; at least on the waterline? This styling is reminiscent of similar lines in at least one of the much larger cutter yachts; which may be seen in the previous Loynes view (# 116744 above) showing the yard from the Granary Staithe; across the river. Unlike her larger sisters ‘Plover’ survived in the Loynes fleet up until the outbreak of World War II but, like many others, never reappeared in hire after that war.
I became a little more intrigued by the small [following] group of Bell’s postcards after the acquisition of this card. The most recent example to join my collection of Norfolk cards by this publisher. The scenes date from the late 1920’s, and in as far as one can be sure the cabin cruiser in the centre of this picture is ‘Emperor’ from the fleet of Herbert Banham at Horning. Herbert was one of a handful of early pioneers who began building and hiring out self drive motor cruisers. Although initially guests would still have the option of a skipper to handle the boat.
The other craft, nearer the camera, is of a style principally attributable to Leo Robinson at Oulton Broad and Herbert Hipperson of Beccles. Interestingly, Ella, the sender of this postcard has given her address as “Rest-A-Whyle” which was a cruiser from the fleet of Herbert Hipperson. Comparison with the several classes of this style suggests that this could well be the boat of that name; I have been able to rule out most of the others. How fortunate would Ella have been to find a postcard that shows the very boat she was cruising on? However, she doesn’t mention that in her note, only that the party had spent two nights at Ranworth.
In any event, it was the large dinghy, with the coiled rope fenders on her transom, that piqued my curiosity. It won’t show up very well on the web-site but the name on her transom is ‘Enchantress’ and she is the sailing tender to that famous craft. ‘Enchantress’ was a large (60’) very stylish and luxurious launch that was on hire from Leo Robinson at Oulton Broad. She could accommodate ten guests and carried a crew of two. A Skipper to take care of all aspects of the boat handling and an Attendant who was responsible for the catering. My first reaction was to look for ‘Enchantress’ in the background of the scene but apart from the unidentified broads yacht all that is in clear view are a wherry yacht, most probably from Ernest Collins, and a large yacht of the cutter type; possibly ‘Iverna’ also from the Collins fleet.
So I referred to my other three cards, in this sequence, which all look in the opposite direction and appear more likely to have been photographed from a floating viewpoint….
I had not noticed before but ‘Enchantress’ appears in all three scenes albeit in the far distance. Can you identify her in this view? I will point her out on the next card shown. Meanwhile, we can see a large and very smart cruiser nearest to the camera. As far as I can be certain, I believe her to be ‘Grey Dawn’ a 47’ Cruiser with 7 or 8 berths for guest’s. ‘Grey Dawn’ would be quite new in this picture and on hire from Charlie and George (C. & G.) Press at Hoveton. At the time of this picture she could be hired for around £20 per week, in the high season, including the services of a ‘man’ to handle the boat.
So there she is: ‘Enchantress’. Alright - I know it’s not the best shot of her but if you didn’t spot her in the first view this will help. I’ve got a better one below! This is a lovely sharp example of the Bell Company’s products and perhaps of more interest here are the two cruisers in the middle left of the picture. It is clear they are also from the fleet of Herbert Banham at Horning but which class? I believe that the nearest boat is ‘ILIKU’ (that only works in upper case) a one-off cruiser which was rather similar to the ‘Ailsa Craig’ class of three thirty footers, but larger at 35ft. The adjacent cruiser looks similar, as far as you can see. In fact she is also a Banham cruiser but this is ‘Sultan’ (her name can be read on the original) a 33’6” craft which could accommodate up to seven guests. The principal difference between her and her neighbour is that ‘Sultan’ had a raised foredeck covering a cabin which contained the galley and a single bunk; making her similar in appearance to ‘Emperor’ above. To me, boats like this represent a stage in the evolution from Launch style cruisers to the later Centre Cockpit type which were soon to replace these boats. Well at least for the next thirty years, or so, until the ‘Caribbean’ and ‘Bermuda’ classes heralded the return of the single level, forward drive, designs we are so familiar with today. Own up! Who said Tupperware??
Here’s a close up of ‘Enchantress’ at Stalham in the 1920’s. I have long been intrigued by this picture in so far as the young skipper looks very much like Jack Robinson, Leo’s younger brother. The puzzle is mainly in dating the picture. Leo Robinson inherited the family business from his father, William, and initially the two brothers operated virtually as partners but eventually there was a rift in this partnership which culminated in Jack setting up on his own; some time in the mid-1920’s. I have a guide to Broads Yachting published by Jack in 1921 (containing an advert for Leo Robinson) and a very similar volume, by Leo, from 1925 which implies the separation had taken place by then. That being the case, if I am correct that this is Jack Robinson, the above photograph must be no later than that?
Blake's Boating 1939
It would be interesting to speculate that the existence of this Stalham picture (one of two I have in sequence) and the subsequent group from Ranworth suggests that the photographer was actually a guest onboard ‘Enchantress’ but there is quite a large gap between the index numbers so perhaps not, in the latter case? In the absence of any archive records it seems unlikely that a provincial publisher would produce hundreds of thousands of real photo-cards. At the same time, it is known that changes were made to Bell’s reference number system, so one might speculate that the Stalham index indicates 1[9]24 and the Ranworth cards are 1[9]27? That would work out rather well for many of the cards in my collection but would not apply for earlier index numbers containing only five digits.
* For more discussion regarding the controversy that had earlier surrounded the identity of 'Enchantress' please see the section on Spashett postcards above.
On the face of it this simple little card (showing a Wherry rigged yacht on Wroxham Broad) could be mistaken for an early Raphael Tuck or a Photochrom Co. product but it was actually produced for the Bell Photo Co. of Westcliff-on-Sea. That makes it unique in my collection because the only examples of that company's cards that I have ever seen are of the 'Real Photographic' type, in Black & White. Maybe that is because I always have an eye open for examples of Bell's real photos and would not necessarily take the same notice of a card like this?
So what we have here is an un-numbered card endorsed "Bell's Series Westcliff-on-Sea" and more significantly "Printed in Germany" which is an indication that the card is Edwardian. Prior to the 1st World War many printed cards were produced abroad for British Companies because of their more advanced colour printing techniques; such as the Photocromic system. All of that came to an end with the declaration of war in 1914 and the resulting Anti-German feelings at home. After that cards often carried messages like "All British Production" or similar. Unusually for this era the card is unposted and in remarkably good condition, I hope you liked it too?
So here we have some clarification of the above colour postcard in my most recent acquisition. This is the original ‘real photograph’ version and its serial number confirms to me that the picture dates from the first decade of the twentieth century. With the advantage of a photograph we can more easily tell that this is a heavily carvel built Wherry Yacht with a counter stern and correct Wherry rigging. We can even see that she has her ‘Bonnet’ laced to the foot of the sail to increase her sail area; a common practice aboard trading wherries in light airs.
With the aid of this clarification I have found other pictures of this boat within my collection and my archive but no positive identification. Thanks to pictorial evidence I can say with some confidence that she is from the fleet of John Loynes at Wroxham but unfortunately that is where my archive becomes a little sketchy. At the risk of repeating myself: John Loynes didn’t join the Blake's organisation until after the First World War and only produced lightly illustrated leaflet type lists prior to that. Few of these have survived although I believe the Museum of the Broads has a copy. My earliest information is from 1926 and that contains details of the only Loynes Wherry Yacht that I know of; that yacht was the ‘Golden Hinde’. The only proven pictures I have of Golden Hinde show her with a white painted hull whereas the earlier pictures show this vessel with a dark varnished hull. That wouldn’t rule out a makeover but I believe this craft is of heavier more workman like construction with wider side decks; similar to the large Cutter Yachts of Loynes’ early fleet. A good picture showing her with two Cutters can be found in Robert Malster’s 2003 edition of ‘The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads’ page 155; I have a very similar view in my collection but it does not show this boat nearly so well. And so, in conclusion, I can’t suggest that this is Golden Hinde, which in any case was described as new in the 1926 brochure, and it may be sometime or never that I discover her true identity?
Since writing the above remarks I have discovered another view, from the early 20th Century which does show the boat in question, lying astern of the white cutter 'Victoria' at John Loynes quay. I have shared a crop (to better display the yacht) of this card below. The card was posted in 1909 but references to "Friesland Meres, Zuider Zee and North Holland Canals" suggest the photograph was a few earlier.
Addendum November 2017: I have recently identified that John Loynes converted the old lifeboat ‘Caister Maid’ to a Wherry Yacht (to save on building time) and he had so many problems with the conversion that he re-named her ‘Hazard’. He was pleased with her in the end and she became the inspiration for his later and (nowadays) better known Wherrry Yacht ‘Golden Hinde’. It seems to me very possible that the vessel in these postcards is indeed ‘Hazard’ and I have since discovered that her hull was later painted white and from 1923 she was retired as a houseboat; which purpose she served until the mid 1930s. This was a common fate for the Pleasure Wherries and Wherry Yachts when their maintenance as sailing vessels became uneconomical.
Addendum January 2018: Oh the perils of an ever growing collection! Tidying my archives today I came across a period copy of the photograph (not a postcard) below. It is the same view that appears in Robert Malster's book and must date to the end of the 19th century before John Loynes withdrew from his Holland enterprise due to anti-British feelings there; because of the Boer War. The vessel thought to be 'Hazard' is in the foreground nearest the quay and, clearly, it is a Saturday afternoon with a family or school party being welcomed aboard by the crew. The vessel in the centre looks similarly constructed but, as can be seen, she has a Cutter Yacht rig
My postcard collection is carefully catalogued and yet I still forget some cards in my possession. Perhaps it is time that I also devised a proper system for the photographs that I hold in my archive?
This early 1920’s scene shows a yacht at her mooring, which appears to be a short way into Fleet Dyke, a hundred yards or so from the River Bure. Another yacht is passing by on the main river, and it looks like a bit of a calm day for sailing.
As soon as I saw this nicely animated card I was impressed by the lines of the nearby yacht. What a classic shape? To me she looks a powerful craft too; with what I shall call a semi-counter stern. What I mean by that is: her ‘length on deck’ aft is distinctly longer than her waterline but her stern is still squared off with a nicely varnished transom. If there is a proper name for this style I am not aware of what it might be but you can see what I am trying to describe in the brochure details below.
The young men have been enjoying a swim, something that was common practice on the Broads in those days of cleaner water and hotter summers. The skipper is just visible on the fore deck and the rhond has been visited by a good many ducks of a domestic variety. Perhaps they have wandered here from one of the local farms, maybe even Horning Hall? They may have been too fat to fly but I’m sure they could paddle along for quite a distance.
The yacht is easily identified as ‘Carissima’ which was available for hire from Herbert Banham at Horning. Herbert had an established boatyard at Cambridge and it seems to me most likely that it was shortly after the Ist World War when he came to Horning to expand his business. It was here that he quickly became a pioneer in the development of motor cruisers and established a substantial fleet on the Broads. I am uncertain whether or not ‘Carissima’ was one of the first yachts built at his new business or if she had been inherited with the premises he acquired at the time? Recent information reveals that the latter seems more likely as 'Carissima' and her sister 'Amorita' were built before the 1st World war by Arthur Powley, at Horning; Arthur had been apprenticed at Robert Collins & Son (Ernest) at Wroxham. In any event she remained in the Banham fleet until the dark clouds of War gathered once more in 1939. I am also unsure what fate befell ‘Carissima’ after 1939? Herbert did not maintain his association with Blake’s Ltd. after the war, depriving us of fleet records in the form of their brochures. The only other information I have is a Banham’s flyer from 1955 with the fleet list for that year. That does not include this yacht although other pre-war boats had survived; notably her smaller contemporary ‘Amorita’. Herbert died in1953 although his wife, Cora, continued as Managing Director until around 1960 when the firm was sold to their neighbour H.T. Percival.
© Blakes Holiday Boating 1926
I would say that this is quite a well known image in the world of those who study the Norfolk Wherry. I love this atmospheric picture myself and have long coveted a copy of my own. I had seen one or two of these cards change hands on previous occasions but at prices that I would not consider sensible; so I was out of luck on those occasions. Never mind though, as is often the case, a little patience pays off for those who wait until the competition have been satisfied. Over the years I have seen many sellers disappointed when they have demanded high opening bids based on previously sold examples. Cards that only achieved such high prices because there was more than one keen bidder. Happily that was not the case in this instance and I was the only bidder for this, I would say, “reasonably” priced example. Anyway, enough about the woes of a postcard collector for one day; let’s talk about the scene.
At least the location is easy: It’s around 1920 and the wherry is travelling upstream on the River Ant towards Boardman’s Mill, a ‘Skeleton’ or ‘Open Trestle’ Drainage Mill at How Hill; near Ludham. Where the famous house was initially the holiday home and later the permanent residence of the well known Boardman family.
The identity of the wherry is rather more difficult, if not impossible, to confirm. Even the very knowledgeable surviving wherry men or scholars are often unable to name a trading wherry, with certainty, from a stern view photograph and I have not seen the subject of this picture identified elsewhere. Perhaps unfortunately a wherry or yacht sailing away from the photographer or artist seems to be the preferred viewpoint. I can see why because I think it makes for a nicer composition? It makes identification more difficult though because Wherry name plates were only placed on the forward facing “Standing right ups”; the fixed part of the superstructure around the hold. Most trading wherries followed a similar colour scheme i.e. Black Hull with White Nose, Blue ‘Standing’ Right ups, White ‘Shifting’ right ups and Red hatch covers; so no clues there? On the other hand different owners would have their own distinct colours which were applied to the mast head with, one or more contrasting coloured bands.
You can clearly see a white band on the mast of this wherry and it is the portion above that which would usually be coloured in contrast to the main section which would more often be plain varnished or oiled; the better to withstand wear and tear from the mast hoops. I am sure you can see our problem today? Yes, all the surviving photographs of the old wherries were in Black & White because colour photography did not really come into its own until nearly all the Wherries had gone to their watery graves! So, excluding front views, I would say this means that the only confirmed identifications (and I have seen some contradictions) are photographs that included contemporary annotations; such as the date, the locality or event and identification of the pictured vessel or vessels.
Of course, it is true that Trading Wherries could find themselves working pretty much anywhere in the extended waterways of Broadland but if you find a picture, such as this? One that shows a Wherry in one of the smaller rivers or upper canalised reaches that might just be a clue that the vessel was in its home waters. For example making a regular run to supply goods to its Merchant Owner; such as coal for their local customers or cereals for brewing or baking. This alone cannot identify a Wherry but, bearing in mind the well known dangers of making assumptions, it can help to narrow down the possibilities.
Jarrold & Sons c.1905
Prior to 1915, the Old Ludham Bridge was low and very narrow so any wherries regularly plying their trade on the River Ant had to be proportioned accordingly. This was a principle that also applied on other rivers such as the Thurne or upper Waveney. With this in mind it would make sense if this wherry was based somewhere on or around the River Ant navigations. That leads me to suggest that she could well be from the fleet of Harry Burton, of Stalham Mill, who owned several smallish wherries of around the 20 Ton mark. Thanks to Roy Clarke’s 1961 work “Black Sailed Traders” we know that Harry Burton’s wherries sported a Green mast top with Red, White and Blue rings at its lower edge. Notwithstanding that Green, Red and Blue do not stand out very well in a monochrome picture we can’t rule them out in this picture either. Examination of the enlarged original suggests that there are indeed coloured bands either side of the clearly visible White band.
Having pieced together every snippet of information that I have, I can rule out many Wherries and a few of the possibilities but I remain unable to give a definitive answer as to the identity of this particular vessel. Up to now my favourite would be ‘Cornucopia’ Harry Burton’s Wherry of 20 tons burden, she was built at Allen’s yard in Coltishall in 1893.
As always I would be delighted to hear from any visitor who has other information or opinion about my suggested identification.
Well, there is such a thing as serendipity! Only last month I posted the above article and today I received this second postcard which I purchased on-line at the weekend. I had never seen this picture before but in the posted copy it could be seen that the Wherry’s owner was H. Burton so I was immediately interested. However, the vessel’s name was less clear and appeared to contain only about four or five letters. I took this to suggest that she was likely to be Burton’s smallest Wherry ‘Ceres’ but with the opportunity to examine the actual photograph it is clear to see that the name is partially obscured and she is in fact ‘Cornucopia’! Naturally I was delighted by this development as, to me, it vindicates the conjectural elements in my previous discussion. Not forgetting though, that it doesn’t actually prove that my original suggestion was correct. Bearing in mind that the locations are a couple of miles apart and the serial numbers are not very close together.
So without doubt this is ‘Cornucopia’ and I think the picture shows her compact dimensions very well. To me, she looks to be rather well turned out and cared for particularly given that she would be about twenty years old at this time. However, I can’t quite figure out what is happening in this picture? The Wherry is heading upstream towards the Bridge but the crew are both aft and a Quant has been discarded on her port side-deck. So have the crew already quanted under the bridge and are now preparing to raise the mast and sail on downstream; or have they some way on and are drifting toward the rhond in order to pause their passage upstream? They do not seem to be on a trajectory to pass under the bridge and wherrymen would often eschew the yachtsman's practice of stopping to raise or lower sail but there is no one at the winch?
Given the discovery that
passengers were sometimes carried, perhaps it is a quick pause to allow somebody
to disembark?
Kindly donated by Mr. Archie Watson
Motor Cruiser ‘Snip’ passing by the Collins’ brother’s moorings on the Hoveton bank of the Bure around about 1926. This is the earlier of two similar postcards (in my collection) which were photographed a few years apart but the same Pleasure Wherry occupies precisely the same mooring in both scenes. As always Wherries can be very challenging to identify but in the end I am reasonably happy with my conclusion here. Nevertheless there is always an element of doubt and questions remain in relation to both of the prominent boats in the picture.
First of all let me re-iterate (sounds a little better than ‘repeat myself’ I suppose?) that I pretend no great expertise or resource when it comes to identifying Wherries; or Pleasure Wherries for that matter. If their identity is not obvious I will consider what clues may be in the picture, what I do know, and make…erm…an educated guess. Taking what information I can gather together, I will then employ a process of elimination to try and confirm or disprove my hypothesis. That’s not perfect but it is the best I can do in most circumstances and some of the un-identified wherries don’t make it on to the website. Unless, that is, the picture is so good that the Wherry’s identification is of secondary importance!
All Broads boats can appear at any location in Broadland but this postcard is entitled “Saturday Night, Wroxham” and that being the case the likelihood is that many craft would remain at their home base on Saturday. This was even more likely in the days of attended cruises (which applies here) when a Sunday morning departure was more usual; to permit the crew a night at home with their families. Naturally, that routine was my first consideration.
In the early twentieth century Ernest Collins had for hire several Pleasure Wherries which were based here. The more up-market Wherry Yachts (which gradually replaced them) tended to be moored at his premises opposite; on the Wroxham Bank. Some of the pleasure wherries belonged to Ernest and some were let on a commission basis on behalf of other owners. My first consideration was one of the latter group: ‘Black Prince’. I knew that, by the time of my second picture, ‘Black Prince’ had been converted to a Motor Wherry, as had this Wherry but that seems to have been a bit of a red herring here. In this picture the Wherry is still in sailing trim albeit her gaff and her sail are missing. In my later picture, her mast has been replaced with a flag pole as might befit a Houseboat or Motor Wherry? Eventually I did find another picture which was identifiable as ‘Black Prince’ and was able to dismiss this suggestion. My attention then turned to ‘Empress of India’ but she too was soon eliminated.
In any event, by the time of this picture Ernest Collins was only listing three such craft; two of which were built at his yard. Those were ‘Reindeer’ and ‘Liberty’ but they were both so well known that they never came under my consideration this time. There was also ‘Bertha’ which was one of the older Wherries previously on hire from Press Brothers of North Walsham but that Wherry was a converted Trading vessel with a small transom stern and the lines of her main deckhead did not extend over the aft Skipper’s cabin. Then came the light bulb moment? I was reviewing other (Bell Co.) photographs of the location and found one showing a wherry that I knew to be ‘Fairy Queen’ at the nearby Norfolk Broads Yachting Company. It was (I believed) the same Wherry as the one in this view. Fairy Queen’s masthead was quite distinctive but, of course, that cannot be seen in either of the postcards in question, including the example above. So mystery solved, I hope; but only up to a point!
‘Fairy Queen’ was one of several Wherries that were operated by the ‘Norfolk Broads Yachting Company’ whose Hoveton base was situated just a little upstream of this location; near the old granary. In 1913 the founder of the firm Frank Harding Chambers died and although the Wroxham yard continued to be managed by Alfred Pegg the whole operation was broken up and sold after the First World War. Alfred Pegg set up his own business, Pegg & Son, at the location which continued, with an eventual hire fleet of eleven yachts and three motor cruisers, until 1939 and the advent of the Second World War. After the War the company re-invented its identity as the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company with pretty much the same pre-war fleet; but I am guessing new ownership? The largest Wherry in the old N.B.Y.Co. fleet ‘Dragon’ was also bought by Mr Pegg, in 1920, and she remained in-hire, at his Wroxham yard, until around 1934 when she was sold on. After the war she was purchased by the Hopthrow family and remained in private use for the next decade until she became a houseboat at Thorpe. The firm's smallest Wherry was ‘Endeavour’ and after the 1920 sell-off she joined the fleet of Fred Miller at Oulton Broad where she was motorised and, having had her mast removed, her main cabin was extended over the redundant forehatch. The Wherry’s name was changed to ‘Darkie’ (Different days?) but Miller’s was another of those yards that closed with the advent of War, in 1939, never to re-open, and I do not know what became of her. Pictures of ‘Darkie’ can be found on the ‘Early Days’ page, of this web-site, with the Brian Gerald Art Series
As for ‘Fairy Queen’: I can find no reference to what became of her after the sale of 1920. Whether I am right or wrong about the identity of the Wherry above, I must conclude that ‘Fairy Queen’ was purchased by a private buyer, or independent operator, who used her for some years before converting her to motor power or simply using her as a house boat at this location.
And so to consider the smart little motor cruiser ‘Snip’. No problem identifying this boat, for once! Nevertheless there is a question mark hanging over the identity of her builder. ‘Snip’ is listed from 1926 to 1933/4 but in those days only the home port (Horning, in this case) was identified in the brochures; not the actual yard. Instinct would lead me to say Herbert Banham but the pennant design on the hull doesn’t match with his pennant; or at least the one we know of these days. (See below) Herbert Banham was a pioneer when it came to building motor cruisers and he produced a good many after he came to Horning following the 1914-18 War. At the time he already had an established yard on the River Cam at Cambridge. By the 1930s Herbert had built up one of the largest fleets on the Broads at his premises by Horning Staithe. He also provided motor boats for other firms; notably George Smith & Sons at Hoveton; who were quick to embrace these new boats. The earliest motor cruisers were often built with hull lines very similar to those of a yacht, or even converted from a yacht. ‘Snip’ has a suggestion of this in so far as she is double ended. The other prime contender would be H.T. Percival but he was not so prolific in the 1920's and apart from the earliest ‘Peter Pan’ class all his others were given local place names. Chumley and Hawke were in business, at Horning, but almost exclusively concentrated on their sailing yachts. The only other contemporary business that comes to mind is Richard Southgate and his brother Bill Southgate (not to be confused with the Stalham-Southgate Brothers) but I only know of them as boatbuilders and have no record of their engaging in the hire business.
So I suppose this is the price I pay for my interest in the early days? More mysteries and unanswered questions! However it still seems possible that Banham is the most likely candidate for Snip’s builder but that rather hangs upon his having changed his yard’s pennant at some point before the 1930’s.
Addendum I: Since writing this I have been researching another matter and have been reminded of Arthur Powley, a well known Horning boatbuilder and Licensee of the New Inn. Arthur built two of the yachts in the Banham fleet, and was listed in the local directories (but not with Blakes) and therefore it also seems entirely possible that he was the builder and owner in this case.
Addendum II: Further to the above I have discovered that Arthur Powley was the previous occupant of the Banham premises by Horning Staithe; trading as Smith & Powley. The burgee on 'Snip' is that of Smith & Powley. Problem solved and the information also clarifies the acquisition of Powley yachts by Herbert Banham!
And finally (Just for the Arthur Ransome fans) did you know that Banham’s boatyard was the model for ‘Jonnatt’s’ in the Norfolk Broads classics: Coot Club and The Big Six?