CONTENTS.

Chapter

Page

Introduction.

[xi]

I.

The broad District.

[17]

II.

Down the Yare—Norwich toReedham.

[22]

III.

Reedham to Yarmouth.

[43]

IV.

Yarmouth to Acle.

[51]

V.

Acle to Wroxham.

[57]

VI.

Wroxham Broad.

[68]

VII.

Wroxham to Coltishall.

[75]

VIII.

Up the Ant, to Barton andStalham.

[81]

IX.

Womack Broad.

[91]

X.

Hickling Broad.

[98]

XI.

Horsey Mere and SomertonBroad.

[106]

XII.

Back to Yarmouth.

[114]

XIII.

Yarmouth to Somerleyton, up theWaveney.

[117]

XIV.

From Somerleyton toBeccles.

[124]

XV.

Oulton Broad.

[129]

XVI.

Ormesby and Fritton.

[136]

APPENDIX.

Railway Access to FishingStations

[138]

Norfolk and SuffolkFisheries Act

[143]

Tables of RiverDistances

[148]

Tides

[151]

FishingGenerally

[151]

Roach

[155]

Bream

[161]

Yachting

[165]

Shooting andSkating

[170]

Fauna of theBroads

[171]

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Page
Wroxham Broad Frontispiece
A Pool in Surlingham Broad [xvi]
Pull’s Ferry [22]
Bishop’s Bridge [25]
Boom Tower [26]
Thorpe Gardens [29]
A Norfolk Wherry [30]
On the Yare, at Bramerton [33]
On Rockland Broad [36]
Langley Dyke [38]
St. Nicholas Church, Great Yarmouth [41]
The Quay, Great Yarmouth [45]
A “Row,” Great Yarmouth [49]
St. Benet’s Abbey [54]
Cottage, South Walsham Broad [58]
Horning Village [60]
Ranworth Church [61]
Horning Ferry [67]
Belaugh Church [73]
Dyke Near Coltishall [76]
Ludham Bridge [78]
River Bure at Hautbois [79]
A Woodland Pool—Irstead [82]
Entrance—Barton Broad [87]
Carrying Reeds—Barton [88]
Barton Staithe [90]
Ormesby Broad—Landing Stage [91]
Drainage Mill—River Thurne [92]
River Thurne [92]
Hickling Broad [99]
Dyke at Potter Heigham [100]
Hickling Staithe [104]
Martham Broad [105]
Sound Asleep [108]
Somerleyton Hall [120]
River Waveney [128]
Oulton Broad [130]
Fritton Decoy [137]
Ormesby Broad—Landing Stage [152]

INTRODUCTION.

Since the first appearance of this Handbook, and the larger volume on the same subject, which the preface to the first edition stated to be in contemplation, the Broad District has become highly popular. Each year the tourist stream increases, but, happily, there is still plenty of room. No doubt some of the old habitués, who liked to have the whole landscape to themselves, grumble at the change, but the less selfish persons, who happily constitute the majority, do not object to seeing a dozen yachts where formerly they saw but one, or a score of anglers where in past years but half-a-dozen might be seen.

A large trade has arisen in the letting of yachts, boats, and pleasure wherries for cruising purposes; but the inn accommodation has made little advance, and is still too meagre, and insufficient for the demand. The yachts have made great strides in speed and in number. The Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club has flourished exceedingly, and its regattas are popular.

Artists have found out the charm of the quiet scenery of the Broads, and visit us in great numbers. Notably Mr. E. H. Fahey and Miss Osborn have given exhibitions in London devoted to the district. Then littérateurs without number have written magazine and newspaper articles, and others, after a few days’ scamper, have written exhaustive guide-books; and so the ball, which the present writer set rolling in earnest some years ago, is helped merrily forward, and the Rivers and Broads of Norfolk and Suffolk are fast becoming one of the most popular of English playgrounds.

I should like to put the brake on a little in one respect. One guide-book writer appears to treat the riverside meadows as commons, and suggests that yachtsmen should bring lawn-tennis sets and cricket materials with them. Pray don’t take such absurd advice. All riparian owners adhere stoutly to their just rights. It must be remembered that the rights of the public are limited to passage along the navigable rivers and the navigable broads, and the use of the banks of navigable waters for mooring purposes and for towing. The soil of the greater part of the river-beds is vested in the Crown, therefore angling is free to the public. Strictly speaking, the shooting over the Crown rivers is free, but this does not give persons a right to shoot an inch over the banks. Looking to the fact that the Bure is very narrow, and passes through private game preserves, let me earnestly entreat visitors not to fire off guns either at birds or at bottles (which last amusement appears to be a favourite one) above Acle bridge. The sport to the visitors is nil, while the annoyance to the riparian owners is extreme. The riparian owners are generally willing to afford the well-behaved public all reasonable facilities for enjoyment. Let this be repaid by the public refraining from potting away at waterhens and pigeons, or other birds on the banks.

It may be well to add that, up to about the year 1830, the Broads and wet marshes were simply waste; but by the Enclosure Acts and Awards, these watery commons were allotted and divided among the neighbouring landowners. In some cases the rights of navigation and staithes were expressly reserved. In others no reservation was made, and the Broads are absolutely in the hands of private owners. In other cases again, staithes and rights of way have grown into disuse, and channels have become choked up by mud and vegetation. In no case, however, has the right of the Crown to the bed of the common river been affected or changed by the Enclosure Awards.