Acknowledgments
Postcards from the Norfolk Broads.net
Acknowledgements
I am most grateful to the following for their kind permission to reproduce copies of their postcards:
Jarrold & Sons Ltd, Whitefriars, Norwich.
All inclusions from the above publisher are
“Reproduced with permission from Jarrold & Sons Ltd” and are individually credited
Jarrold & Son’s was originally founded by John Jarrold in the late 18th century, when he opened his Drapery and Grocer’s shop, at Woodbridge in Suffolk. Even to this day the firm remains a family run company and are most famous for their retail stores.
Jarrolds first move to Norwich took place in the 1820’s and a few years later the famous department store which now occupies their London Street site was opened. Following the popularisation of East Anglia as a holiday destination, in the late 19th century, Jarrolds became a well known publisher of Picture Postcards and Guide Books The publishing division became a major player in the international printing and publishing world but we are particularly interested in activities related to the Norfolk Broads. Hundreds of Postcard images of the Norfolk Broads were published and examples can still be found which date from the turn of the last century. In those days publishers were not as meticulous at trade-marking their products, as they later became, but I can be certain that several of my own collection date from the period 1895 -1905 and Jarrolds had by then developed a recognisable style of their own.
Apart from Postcards, Jarrolds also published novels and guide books such as the most famous ‘Handbook to the Rivers and Broads of Norfolk & Suffolk’ by G. Christopher Davies (in 1882) and the much later but also well known: ‘What to do on the Norfolk Broads’ an annual publication. They also produced numerous souvenir books and other items showing the Broads in colour photographs, and various other publications and brochures for the holiday firms. Both for the letting agents like Blakes and individual or independent boatyards. A veritable font of Norfolk Broads ephemera was produced but sadly the decision to close the publishing arm of Jarrolds was taken by the founding firm in 2005 and that business was sold. Subsequently the print works was re-furbished and became the new home of the John Jarrold Museum of Printing.
http://www.jarrold.co.uk
http://www.johnjarroldprintingmuseum.org.uk/
J. Salmon Ltd, Sevenoaks, Kent.
All inclusions from the above publisher are
“Copyright J. Salmon Ltd., Sevenoaks, Kent ©” and are individually credited.
Joseph Salmon founded his firm with the purchase of a printer’s shop in Sevenoaks, Kent in 1880 and was producing his first postcards within ten years. Like Jarrolds, the firm is still trading and managed by members of the Salmon family, to this day, and continues to produce a range of Guide Books and Postcards at their factory in Sevenoaks. The company also produces a large range of Calendars, Greetings Cards and other stationery products at their factory and further information can be found at:
http://www.jsalmon.com
J. Salmon Ltd. also produced many postcard views of the Norfolk Broads. Originally in monochrome ‘Real Photograph’ format and later under the ‘Camera Colour’ Trademark. Unfortunately I have not been able to identify any very early examples and most of those in my collection are from the period 1930 to 1970. I have formed the impression that this company was amongst the pioneers of fully photographic colour cards and produced many examples in the 1940’s. Several of these can be seen on this web-site. Also, in a similar way to Valentine & Sons, this company published some excellent hand painted works; most famously by A. R. Quinton.
A. R.Q. as he is known in the hobby travelled around the country and took many photographs However, I have seen no evidence that his art works were copies of any published photographs.
In late September 2017 J. Salmon Ltd. announced that they would close in December. It was felt that the advent of Social Media and the popularity of 'Selfies' was responsible for a significant reduction in the postcard trade.
John Hinde (UK) ltd, Redruth Cornwall.
All inclusions from the above publisher are
“Photo © John Hinde Ltd” and are individually credited.
A tribute to this firm and in particular Edmund Nägele can be found at the foot of this page
James Valentine & Sons Ltd.
Monochrome Real Photograph and Water Colour Images from postcards published by this company are included, mainly on the 'Extras' and 'Early Days' pages, and James Valentine & Sons Ltd. are acknowledged in every case as the rightful authors of these works.
Valentine’s ceased production of their postcards by 1967. At that time their colour image registers were sold-off to other publishers and the major archive of monochrome topographical views by ‘James Valentine & Sons’ is now held by the University of St Andrews Library. For further details of this collection please contact the Library, or refer to:
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/specialcollections/
It is widely believed that the University owns the copyright of these images but this is not actually the case. However, it is true that St Andrew's holds the main archive of Valentine's monochrome postcards and access to that archive is available to all, as are image reproductions. A fee, for the latter, is usually charged, in order to assist in the funding and preservation of the library collection.
Judges Ltd. Hastings.
Fred Judge's career (1878-1950) was fairly typical of the pioneering Victorian photographers and he set up Judge's Photo Stores, in partnership with his brother Thomas, at Hastings in 1902. This was following an initial career as an engineer but it was his commitment to very highly artistic standards that established his reputation as a photographer and secured the family firm for many years. When Fred died the business continued in the stewardship of Ernest Bartholomew, one of Fred's photographers and is currently run by the Wolford family.
Any inclusions from the above company's images are published with their permission. Images are copyright and may remain available from:
http://www.judges.co.uk/
The Francis Frith Book Company
Francis Frith was a successful Victorian business man who amassed a fortune from the sale of his Liverpool business in the Wholesale-Grocery trade. Always an ardent traveller he used the freedom his new found wealth granted to travel abroad and visit such exotic places as the Nile valleys and what was then considered the ‘Dark Continent’ where he experienced many adventures: some maybe a little too exciting for comfort? All the while he was indulging his passion for the new technology of Photography and processing his plates in the lightweight carriage which doubled as his portable dark room! By the time Frith returned to England, around 1860, the Railways were advancing as was the birth of tourism for the ordinary working population.
The fruits of his work in Africa made Frith an overnight success as a Photographer and he went on to create a new business, publishing his photographs. The new public freedom of travel opened a whole new market for holiday souvenirs and Frith was quick to cater for the demand. He committed himself to photographing every town, village and beauty spot in the country and spent the next thirty years doing just that. Following Francis Frith’s death in 1898 the business continued to grow under the management of his sons for the next seventy years or so and today an archive of the ‘Francis Frith Collection’ has been digitised and all the images remain available via the company website
Any inclusions from the above company's archive are published with their permission. Images are copyright and currently available from:
Blakes Holiday Boating, Barnoldswick, Lancashire
‘All Images reproduced by permission of Blakes Holiday Boating © 1908 –2010’ and are individually credited
http://www.blakes.co.uk/
Hoseasons Holidays Ltd, Lowestoft, Suffolk
‘All Images reproduced by permission of Hoseasons Holidays Ltd © 1946 - 2010’ and are individually credited
http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/
Hoseasons c.1975
Jim Hoseason 1927 - 2009
Contributors:
I am also most grateful and offer my sincere thanks to the following individuals for their helpful input and assistance:
Mary Blathwayt: Mary was brought up in Horning and has, on more than one occasion, been most helpful on matters of local history
Mathew Gravener & John Holmes: Both of whom helped to correct the mistaken identity of the "Gay Lady" at Ranworth.
Tim Harding: current owner of "Vagabond" who provided further clarification and information about this historic yacht.
I am most grateful to the following for their kind permission to reproduce copies of their postcards:
Jarrold & Sons Ltd, Whitefriars, Norwich.
All inclusions from the above publisher are
“Reproduced with permission from Jarrold & Sons Ltd” and are individually credited
Jarrold & Son’s was originally founded by John Jarrold in the late 18th century, when he opened his Drapery and Grocer’s shop, at Woodbridge in Suffolk. Even to this day the firm remains a family run company and are most famous for their retail stores.
Jarrolds first move to Norwich took place in the 1820’s and a few years later the famous department store which now occupies their London Street site was opened. Following the popularisation of East Anglia as a holiday destination, in the late 19th century, Jarrolds became a well known publisher of Picture Postcards and Guide Books The publishing division became a major player in the international printing and publishing world but we are particularly interested in activities related to the Norfolk Broads. Hundreds of Postcard images of the Norfolk Broads were published and examples can still be found which date from the turn of the last century. In those days publishers were not as meticulous at trade-marking their products, as they later became, but I can be certain that several of my own collection date from the period 1895 -1905 and Jarrolds had by then developed a recognisable style of their own.
Apart from Postcards, Jarrolds also published novels and guide books such as the most famous ‘Handbook to the Rivers and Broads of Norfolk & Suffolk’ by G. Christopher Davies (in 1882) and the much later but also well known: ‘What to do on the Norfolk Broads’ an annual publication. They also produced numerous souvenir books and other items showing the Broads in colour photographs, and various other publications and brochures for the holiday firms. Both for the letting agents like Blakes and individual or independent boatyards. A veritable font of Norfolk Broads ephemera was produced but sadly the decision to close the publishing arm of Jarrolds was taken by the founding firm in 2005 and that business was sold. Subsequently the print works was re-furbished and became the new home of the John Jarrold Museum of Printing.
http://www.jarrold.co.uk
http://www.johnjarroldprintingmuseum.org.uk/
J. Salmon Ltd, Sevenoaks, Kent.
All inclusions from the above publisher are
“Copyright J. Salmon Ltd., Sevenoaks, Kent ©” and are individually credited.
Joseph Salmon founded his firm with the purchase of a printer’s shop in Sevenoaks, Kent in 1880 and was producing his first postcards within ten years. Like Jarrolds, the firm is still trading and managed by members of the Salmon family, to this day, and continues to produce a range of Guide Books and Postcards at their factory in Sevenoaks. The company also produces a large range of Calendars, Greetings Cards and other stationery products at their factory and further information can be found at:
http://www.jsalmon.com
J. Salmon Ltd. also produced many postcard views of the Norfolk Broads. Originally in monochrome ‘Real Photograph’ format and later under the ‘Camera Colour’ Trademark. Unfortunately I have not been able to identify any very early examples and most of those in my collection are from the period 1930 to 1970. I have formed the impression that this company was amongst the pioneers of fully photographic colour cards and produced many examples in the 1940’s. Several of these can be seen on this web-site. Also, in a similar way to Valentine & Sons, this company published some excellent hand painted works; most famously by A. R. Quinton.
A. R.Q. as he is known in the hobby travelled around the country and took many photographs However, I have seen no evidence that his art works were copies of any published photographs.
In late September 2017 J. Salmon Ltd. announced that they would close in December. It was felt that the advent of Social Media and the popularity of 'Selfies' was responsible for a significant reduction in the postcard trade.
John Hinde (UK) ltd, Redruth Cornwall.
All inclusions from the above publisher are
“Photo © John Hinde Ltd” and are individually credited.
A tribute to this firm and in particular Edmund Nägele can be found at the foot of this page
James Valentine & Sons Ltd.
Monochrome Real Photograph and Water Colour Images from postcards published by this company are included, mainly on the 'Extras' and 'Early Days' pages, and James Valentine & Sons Ltd. are acknowledged in every case as the rightful authors of these works.
Valentine’s ceased production of their postcards by 1967. At that time their colour image registers were sold-off to other publishers and the major archive of monochrome topographical views by ‘James Valentine & Sons’ is now held by the University of St Andrews Library. For further details of this collection please contact the Library, or refer to:
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/specialcollections/
It is widely believed that the University owns the copyright of these images but this is not actually the case. However, it is true that St Andrew's holds the main archive of Valentine's monochrome postcards and access to that archive is available to all, as are image reproductions. A fee, for the latter, is usually charged, in order to assist in the funding and preservation of the library collection.
Judges Ltd. Hastings.
Fred Judge's career (1878-1950) was fairly typical of the pioneering Victorian photographers and he set up Judge's Photo Stores, in partnership with his brother Thomas, at Hastings in 1902. This was following an initial career as an engineer but it was his commitment to very highly artistic standards that established his reputation as a photographer and secured the family firm for many years. When Fred died the business continued in the stewardship of Ernest Bartholomew, one of Fred's photographers and is currently run by the Wolford family.
Any inclusions from the above company's images are published with their permission. Images are copyright and may remain available from:
http://www.judges.co.uk/
The Francis Frith Book Company
Francis Frith was a successful Victorian business man who amassed a fortune from the sale of his Liverpool business in the Wholesale-Grocery trade. Always an ardent traveller he used the freedom his new found wealth granted to travel abroad and visit such exotic places as the Nile valleys and what was then considered the ‘Dark Continent’ where he experienced many adventures: some maybe a little too exciting for comfort? All the while he was indulging his passion for the new technology of Photography and processing his plates in the lightweight carriage which doubled as his portable dark room! By the time Frith returned to England, around 1860, the Railways were advancing as was the birth of tourism for the ordinary working population.
The fruits of his work in Africa made Frith an overnight success as a Photographer and he went on to create a new business, publishing his photographs. The new public freedom of travel opened a whole new market for holiday souvenirs and Frith was quick to cater for the demand. He committed himself to photographing every town, village and beauty spot in the country and spent the next thirty years doing just that. Following Francis Frith’s death in 1898 the business continued to grow under the management of his sons for the next seventy years or so and today an archive of the ‘Francis Frith Collection’ has been digitised and all the images remain available via the company website
Any inclusions from the above company's archive are published with their permission. Images are copyright and currently available from:
www.francisfrith.com
I am also most grateful to the following for their kind permission to reproduce extracts from their brochures:
Blakes Holiday Boating, Barnoldswick, Lancashire
‘All Images reproduced by permission of Blakes Holiday Boating © 1908 –2010’ and are individually credited
http://www.blakes.co.uk/
Hoseasons Holidays Ltd, Lowestoft, Suffolk
‘All Images reproduced by permission of Hoseasons Holidays Ltd © 1946 - 2010’ and are individually credited
http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/boat-holidays/
Hoseasons c.1975
Jim Hoseason 1927 - 2009
It was with genuine sadness that I learned today of the death of Jim Hoseason. Unfortunately, since I do not live in East Anglia, it was a good few months before I became aware of this fact. My family were regular customers of 'Broadland Owners Association' firms from the very beginning and always held his organisation, and its members, in the highest esteem.
When I first developed this web-site I contacted Hoseasons’ for permission to use scans from their publications and was met with the most friendly and helpful reception. Jim had retired in 1999 but he was still advised about the site and, having viewed it for himself, he took the time and trouble to send me a most charming message of support. Despite the good-humoured warnings I had received from his colleagues, he resisted any temptation to “put me straight” on any of my facts. Not that I should have minded, in the slightest! This was only a few months before his passing. I'm sure Jim was a most remarkable man and will be very much missed by his friends and family.
Contributors:
I am also most grateful and offer my sincere thanks to the following individuals for their helpful input and assistance:
Mary Blathwayt: Mary was brought up in Horning and has, on more than one occasion, been most helpful on matters of local history
Mathew Gravener & John Holmes: Both of whom helped to correct the mistaken identity of the "Gay Lady" at Ranworth.
Tim Harding: current owner of "Vagabond" who provided further clarification and information about this historic yacht.
Myer Rosen: Reminded me of a wrong (albeit speculative) identification at Salhouse Broad. That will teach me!
Graham Noble: Provided some much needed enlightenment about Broadland Goosander/Snipe and further insight into Ripplecraft at Somerleyton.
Peter Waller: Peter was a business partner at Fowler's of Oulton Broad and (incidently) the very first person to send me a message of support after I launched this site in 2009. Recently (Sept. 2011) whilst reviewing this company I was mystified by the apparently sudden disappearance of the firm and its fleet after the 1972 season? I contacted Peter and he was most helpful in clarifying that in 1972 the land occupied by Fowlers and their neighbours was bought up by the GLC. Their fleet reappeared in the Blakes lists for 1974 after finding a new base at Ripplecraft of Somerleyton. Here it remained until 1977 when Jack Fowler retired from the boating holiday hire business. A few of the boats had already beeen bought by Richardsons at Stalham and the remaining fleet was then transferred to Ripplecraft's ownership.
Steve Day: Like Graham, Steve has special knowledge of one particular firm: In his case H. C. Banham of Horning, a major force in the pre-war hire industry, and Steve's input has been a great help to me in clarifying that firm's history.
Jack A Robinson: Jack is the Great- Great Nephew of Leo A. Robinson, and has provided very helpful clarification of his family's history at Oulton Broad; parts of which are surprisingly similar to other well known Broadland families.
Roderick Starksfield: Roderick is the son of J. Stanley Starksfield who bought the Wayford Bridge Yacht Station from Old Man (William) Hewitt. Our correspondence has been most helpful in expanding my account of this yard and, in particular, the Willow Wren yachts. I am extremely grateful for the images that Roderick has provided and the opportunity to read his own very entertaining account of life at Wayford Bridge in the 1950's.
Stuart Press: Stuart is a well known Norfolk boatbuilder and yachtsman who can boast at least seven generations of Boat, Yacht and Wherry Builders amongst his ancestors. I am most grateful for the delightful assistance he has provided, which has enabled me to re-write the article about Fred Press at Belaugh; in much more accurate detail.
Paul Braithwaite: Is the first person to whom I am grateful for some very valuable assistance, despite the fact that he doesn't have any special interest in the Norfolk Broads! This assistance is particularly helpful with regard to the dating of postcards. A subject never far from my mind when considering the images on my website.
Paul, an Architect and Photographer, is also a Postcard Collector who has made a special study of the "Photochrom Co. Ltd." of Tunbridge Wells & London, quite a few of whose cards have been shared here.
Paul has done a lot of work in creating a Chronology and Archive of Photochrom's production and he is keen to hear from anyone who can assist in this enterprise with data of their own.
For me, it was particularly satisfying to be able to put fairly close dates on the two, recently added S.J. Belchelder Art Cards. Dating which was in no small part based on the chronology of their formats and I should have been unable to do this without the assistance and information which Paul so generously shares.
You can find Paul's Website at: www.photochrom-postcards-handbook.webs.com
Mike Barnes: I contacted Mike in the hope of clarification of the connection, if any, between Southgate Brothers of Sutton & Stalham and the Southgate Brothers of Horning. Mike was most helpful and provided some vital clues which enabled me to get to the bottom of this question after several years of head scratching!
Mike has closed his Norfolk Broads Yachting Company at Horning but his very interesting website can still be found at: www.norfolk-broads.com
Mark James: Mark is the current owner of Alfred Ward's 'Sea Prince' and he has been of great assistance in identification of that boat in a postcard of Horning on the River Bure page. Personal knowledge scores over research yet again. Thanks again Mark.
Mark has his own website for his design business etc. which includes a page devoted to A.G.Ward
http://www.squeakydesign.info/
References to the Trading Wherries of Norfolk contain elements of my own research but the definitive books on that subject are frequently consulted. They are 'Black Sailed Traders' by Roy Clarke and 'Wherries & Waterways' by Robert Malster. I am very grateful for the wonderful resource they have both provided. Of course not even these two gentlemen or the old Wherry men they knew personally could identify all the trading wherries,from photographs, all of the time.
The richest resource of Postcards showing these elegant vessels, that I have found, are the products of the Bell Photo Company. a few of those pictures can be seen on the 'Extras' page. Of course many of Bell's publications date from an era that few, if any, surviving Wherry men can recall today.
Edmund Nägele
Of all the colour postcards that appear on this site I particularly like those of the John Hinde Studios. The earlier Norfolk examples are predominantly photographed by Edmund Nägele and were colour enhanced at the printing stage rather than the more common process where the original was retouched by hand. Printing inks would be selected according to preferred colours rather than those necessarily identified by the camera. Details such as clothing, sails or burgees would receive colour enhancements as would larger areas giving bluer skies and waters. This is evident when you are aware of it but the process lends the images a colour sharpness that was designed to make the products stand out from the crowd. I think they do that very successfully and nowadays John Hinde is increasingly acknowledged as a pioneer in this field.
The originals were photographed with Kodak ‘Ektachrome’ reversal film, often with large format cameras, and a monochrome negative would be produced in order to create an enlargement which could carry the colour instructions to the Italian printers.
Edmund Nägele, a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, visited the Norfolk Broads around 1966 and embarked upon a cruise in “Mac-Nab” the cabin cruiser which was the founder of the Richardson’s fleet at Oulton Broad. Edmund and his colleagues often involved bystanders in their photographs but on this occasion he had a lady companion and she appears in many of his Norfolk Broads pictures. I will refer to her as Mrs Nägele in the shorter captions used here, although I do not know her actual identity.
(Addendum March 2012: I was delighted recently to enjoy a brief correspondence with Mr Nägele, himself, who tells me that he is now retired and living in Bavaria. He also confirmed that the "lady in red" is indeed his late wife.)
Here are the pictures from my small collection of Nägele postcards, some of which are already on the website but others may be new to you? There are twenty six (Broads) postcards represented here but I think I am still missing seven or eight other examples. I cannot be sure of the location of the windmill above but think it most likely to be Turf Fen on the River Ant or St. Benet's Level near the Thurne.
(Addendum January 2017: I am grateful to Gavin Willis for pointing out to me that this is actually Stracey Arms Mill. Thanks Gavin, I was never happy with my own suggestions for this location.)
I have tried to place the following images by location rather than in order of index number:
The Herbert Woods 'Glistening Light' passes through Belaugh. circa. 1967
The cruiser ‘Shari’ at a newly refurbished ‘Bure Court Hotel’ which was originally built as a private home in the 1920’s
Mrs Nägele enjoys watching the water babies at Salhouse Broad. I suppose the lady’s top would not look natural [in the shade] if it had been enhanced like the dinghy’s sail?
A Hunter ‘Wood’ class slips by the Swan at Horning
A Herbert Woods' 'Gay Lady' yacht ghosts by the Horning Ferry Inn on a bright day in the late 1960s. The card was posted 1969 and the pub's new roof lets us know that it is after 1965. The yacht's red 'boot top' would have been an enhancement during the printing process. Other points of nostalgic interest are the 'Moorhen' class cruiser moored nearby and the Singer 'Gazelle' in the car park. This model was produced from 1958-1964 and the open doors may indicate that it really was a hot day?
A Herbert Woods' 'Gay Lady' yacht ghosts by the Horning Ferry Inn on a bright day in the late 1960s. The card was posted 1969 and the pub's new roof lets us know that it is after 1965. The yacht's red 'boot top' would have been an enhancement during the printing process. Other points of nostalgic interest are the 'Moorhen' class cruiser moored nearby and the Singer 'Gazelle' in the car park. This model was produced from 1958-1964 and the open doors may indicate that it really was a hot day?
Two images of the ‘Fair Lady’-‘Fair Breeze’ class, from the same view point, probably at Malthouse Broad.
I would say that the two shots were taken in failing light but within minutes of each other which does make me wonder about the pink sky in the latter?
These last two cards have reference numbers immediately prior to the St. Benet’s view below but card serial numbers do not appear to be a reliable guide to the sequence of locations as they would be reached by water .
Mrs Nägele waves to the crew of a ‘Fair Lady’ class yacht.
Feeding the Swans at Hickling Staithe by the Pleasure Boat Inn. This photograph and the following three are examples from Edmund's second visit to the Broads. Mrs Nägele is not in evidence, as his model, on this occasion but the practice of including people remains evident. It is not believed that the cabin cruiser is a hire craft, more likely a local's boat enjoying the owner's right to mooring at the staithe?
Youngsters watch a ‘Kingfisher’ class taking her turn under Ludham Bridge.
‘White Beaver’ lies to her mud weight at South Walsham Broad. Again we have ‘Fair Lady’ yachts and what just might be a surviving Great Yarmouth O.D. Please see the Extras page.
A 'Gay Lady' class yacht slips past the local moorings at Ranworth. Her sails would have been coloured red in the printing process
‘Mayfly/Pimpernel’ class at Thurne
Percy Hunter's 'Woodcut 2' sails near Potter Heigham bridge. Woodcut 2 was a Lugsail dayboat built just before World War 2 and still in hire from the Heritage Fleet today. Her sail would not have been red and I am doubtful about the yellow launch. I do think the boatsheds were pink for a time?
Horsey Mill and Local's Moorings
I think this is actually a better image of the yacht station at Yarmouth than the one I used in the main pages? The little cruiser is ‘Wren’ from Pye Marine and could that be ‘May Queen’ again? Moored fourth from right.
Slightly mystifying this one! I imagine this must be Berney Arms Mill in which case (as we must also be looking to the west) the yacht would be entering Breydon Water. A bit late to make Yarmouth at the apparent time of day?
(January 2017: Thanks are due again to Gavin Willis who has suggested that the yacht is in fact on the River Waveney and is making for Berney Arms to spend the night. All together a more sensible suggestion which would mean the photographer was probably somewhere near Burgh Castle and looking to the North West.
At Reedham. Colour enhancements include Mrs Nägele’s bikini and, perhaps surprisingly, the bills of the swans.
I thought this was perhaps a little sexy for the main website? The ferry passengers do seem very interested in the photographer though?
Sailing at Buckenham Ferry on the River Yare. This is a 17ft. ‘Osprey’ trapeze dinghy. Most likely based at the Buckenham Sailing Club who are based beside the Beauchamp Arms; seen here on the south bank of the river?
Mrs Nägele again, this time at Brundall Marina and I am beginning to wonder about that tan now?
The boatyard at Hart's island which by this time was Hearts Cruisers owned by Commander Ron Ashby D.S.C. who made his home in the ex-Naval gunboat Morning Flight, seen here in the top right, after WW2
Another card from the later series (early 1970's) that were distributed through the Don's Supplies company, although they were still produced by the John Hinde Company. The view is at How Hill on the Ant and shows Turf Fen mill before the restorations began around 1976 and a day boat similar to Hunter's Woodcut.
It's some time since I found a new card from Edmund Nagele so this was an exciting find (August 2017) albeit the index number implies that there are rather more to find than I had appreciated. The composition of the picture is absolutely typical of Edmund's Broadland postcards. High definition colour, bikini girl sunbathing in the foreground and blue skies reflected in the water. Lovely!
I am under the impression that the lady is accompanying Mr Nagele as his model, just as his wife did in their earlier series. That was in the 1960's when they toured the Broads in the Richardson's cruiser 'Mac Nab' but it may not be the case? Edmund would sometimes recruit volunteer models on the spot. In the same way the yellow roof may or may not assist in identification of the cruiser because of the system of colour enhancement practiced by the John Hinde company. This was a livery favoured by both Bees Boats and Summercraft but I have been unable to find an example that quite fits with the features we can see in this picture.
Nevertheless some of the other boats are very easily identified: Alongside we have a 'Crystal Light' class from Herbert Woods. The centre cockpit version of the mass produced 'Elysian 27' which was so popular with the largest hire companies in this era. Next to her is the much more attractive 'Rexmore' from R. Moore and Sons, at Hoveton and in the centre of the scene 'Edith E' from one of the oldest established firms on the Broads: H.E. Hipperson of Beccles.
That's all for now. Another few examples to collect and add whenever possible.Another card from the later series (early 1970's) that were distributed through the Don's Supplies company, although they were still produced by the John Hinde Company. The view is at How Hill on the Ant and shows Turf Fen mill before the restorations began around 1976 and a day boat similar to Hunter's Woodcut.
It's some time since I found a new card from Edmund Nagele so this was an exciting find (August 2017) albeit the index number implies that there are rather more to find than I had appreciated. The composition of the picture is absolutely typical of Edmund's Broadland postcards. High definition colour, bikini girl sunbathing in the foreground and blue skies reflected in the water. Lovely!
I am under the impression that the lady is accompanying Mr Nagele as his model, just as his wife did in their earlier series. That was in the 1960's when they toured the Broads in the Richardson's cruiser 'Mac Nab' but it may not be the case? Edmund would sometimes recruit volunteer models on the spot. In the same way the yellow roof may or may not assist in identification of the cruiser because of the system of colour enhancement practiced by the John Hinde company. This was a livery favoured by both Bees Boats and Summercraft but I have been unable to find an example that quite fits with the features we can see in this picture.
Nevertheless some of the other boats are very easily identified: Alongside we have a 'Crystal Light' class from Herbert Woods. The centre cockpit version of the mass produced 'Elysian 27' which was so popular with the largest hire companies in this era. Next to her is the much more attractive 'Rexmore' from R. Moore and Sons, at Hoveton and in the centre of the scene 'Edith E' from one of the oldest established firms on the Broads: H.E. Hipperson of Beccles.
Photo Precision Limited. ™COLOURMASTER INTERNATIONAL.
The postcard collector, that has morphed within me, loves a set or series of cards and I have found another such thing within my collection of cards by Photo. Precision Limited of St. Ives, Huntingdon. This company was founded by Arthur Smith and Tom English who had both served in Photographic functions for RAF reconnaissance during the Second World War. The company was formed in London in 1946 and later moved to St. Albans. Latterly the factory moved again; this time to Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire where the firm finally ceased trading sometime around 1980.
This firm’s products were high quality colour photographs and quite a few examples appear on this website. Initially I recognised that two of these views featured the same group of people because one of the ladies was wearing a rather distinctive striped skirt. The first of these was a view of Hart’s boatyard at Thorpe and the second was at Bondon’s of South Walsham. Since then, I have identified four more postcards featuring this group. It seems to me that what we have here are two couples who spent a few days touring the Broads, probably by car, whilst one of the party took a series of photographs for later publication as postcards. Who knows? Perhaps the two gentlemen were the founders of that very company? Here are the cards from my collection. They all date from the 1960’s and, since the sequence of their serial numbers is of no assistance, I have arranged them in an order that make sense, to me, if they were driving around the Broads from a starting point in Norwich.
Our group enjoying the bustling activity of change-over day at Hearts Cruisers Ltd, from their seat on the green at Thorpe St. Andrew; near Norwich. The boatyard here was founded at the turn of the last century by John Hart and was soon located on what was to become known as Hart's Island. The narrow strip of land, next to the River Yare, that was isolated when a new cut was formed to enable larger vessels to reach Norwich after the two railway bridges were built over the river here.
A Photo Precision Ltd Postcard
This is quite an unusual picture of the Ferry House at Surlingham. It seems to me that photographs taken from the river are much more common and they tend to show the pub’s triple gable ends from the southerly aspect. (Please see my picture on the River Yare page) Our couple have apparently arrived by road, from the direction of Postwick village, before continuing their journey via Brundall and Reedham. There was originally a chain ferry at this point that allowed vehicular passage to the pub, the village of Surlingham and beyond but by the time of our friends’ visit only a rowing boat was available for foot passengers. Moored outside the pub are two local boats but it is not really possible to be precise in their identification. The larger cruiser appears to be one of the ‘Queen of Hearts’ type six berths, of which there were several similar boats available from Hearts Cruisers at Thorpe; where we last saw this couple. The smaller cruiser shows The Red Whale Fleet emblem of R.B. Bradbeer Ltd. and there were several yards affiliated to this agency at nearby Brundall. My best suggestion is that she looks like ‘Akita’ from Alpha Craft?
The group are seen here outside the Lord Nelson at Reedham. Just setting off is one of the new Broom ‘Commander’ class and in the foreground we have ‘Cumulus’ from Johnson’s Yacht Station at St. Olaves. This craft looks for all the world as if she is an example of Frederick Miller’s ‘Fleet Wing’ class which were all sold off, with the rest of his fleet, at the end of the War. However ‘Cumulus’ was listed as several feet shorter than ‘Fleet Wing’ so the only way it is possible that they are the same boat would be if ‘Fleet Wing’ had suffered wartime damage out on Oulton Broad and had been shortened as part of her restoration? This would not have been unusual at the time when many boats were wholly or partly rebuilt after being half sunken for the duration.
Here are our people standing downstream of Acle bridge. We can see Alan Johnson’s boatyard and passing by is ‘Rosaleen’ a 2 Berth cruiser from Sabberton Marine at Hoveton, she was built around 1960 which was about the same time that the hire company’s name changed from Sabberton Brothers to Sabberton (Marine) Ltd. To me, it seems a shame that the photographer did not move a little to his right and include the photogenic Bridge Inn Restaurant in this view?
Here's our now familiar looking group enjoying the sight of a graceful yacht from the moorings at R. & C. Bondon’s boatyard and ‘Broadside Store’ near the entrance to South Walsham Broad. To me, the yacht has the look of one of the Wayford Bridge classes, such as Wagtail, but it is difficult to be certain?)
The Bondon family business traded at this location for around thirty years and had (mainly) unique boats which were all named after the wine producing regions of France. In the foreground is one of the aptly named “Petit Barsac” class of, six or seven, tiny two berth cruisers which seem to have had a pesky knack of appearing in postcard views from all over the Broads? In the background we can see both examples of the larger “Barsac” aft cockpit cruisers. ‘Barsac 1’ was 26ft and had two berths. Although ‘Barsac 2’ had the same layout she was two foot longer and was designated as a three berth.
And finally, the group have changed their clothes so maybe they stayed overnight somewhere nearby? Here they have paused on the green at Belaugh and are watching one of Herbert Woods’ ‘Gleaming Light’ class cabin cruisers heading off towards Coltishall. Maybe the crew will lunch at the Rising Sun or the Anchor Inn? I wonder if I will find any more cards from this sequence, there are a few gaps amongst the serial numbers I have?
