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The other attraction of these riverside establishments, as now, was the liquid refreshment they provided after a long day’s cruising. Ernest Suffling wrote: “Some inns keep an old ale called ‘Old Tom’. It is exceedingly intoxicating and costs one shilling per quart.”  He also mentions a sweet ale produced by the Lacons brewery at Yarmouth in the autumn which had: “a decided taste of malt and hops which is so hard to distinguish in the London production”.  

As has already been mentioned, the attractions of visiting the Broads were seen to be sporting pursuits such as angling and shooting, the bird watching, the architecture of the many fine churches and buildings, and the beauty and remoteness of the region. However, there were other attractions opening as Broadland began to adapt to meet the needs of the many holidaymakers and day trippers who were visiting. The Woods End at Bramerton was set in 7 acres of grounds which had been landscaped into pleasure gardens where picnics and strolls could be taken. Brundall Gardens were created by Dr Michael Beverley between 1882 and 1887 and covered an 18 acre site, planted with many rare shrubs and trees. Fritton Lake became another popular spot with tea rooms and rowing boats available for hire from the staithe, as did the Trinity Broads of Rollesby, Filby and Ormesby where rowing boats could be hired from the Eels Foot Inn. Somerleyton Hall was opening its doors and grounds to the public during the summer months, at Norwich you could take a tour of the Colman’s factory, or visit the theatre and museum. The castle here was used as the county gaol until the 1880s, but in 1887 it was converted into the county museum and many of those original exhibits can still be seen there today.

No trip to the area was complete without a visit to the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth which had seen massive development once the rail network was established. Both the Wellington and Britannia piers had been built in the 1850s and the Marine Parade was completed by the 1860s. The towns Aquarium building, a forerunner to the modern Sealife Centres, was opened in 1875. By the 1890s numerous attractions were springing up along the seafront including, in 1897, the Jubilee Exhibition which, with its slot machines and rifle ranges, can probably be seen as the towns’ first amusement arcade. Also opening in 1897 was the Revolving Observation Tower which was an incredible feat of engineering for the time. After paying the admission fee, one would walk onto a platform which would slowly rise in a corkscrew fashion over 130 feet into the air. This was in the days before hydraulics had been invented and, from the description, it sounds like a giant nut and bolt! Once at the top you were rewarded with magnificent views out to sea, across the town and inland over Broadland. It was said that on a clear day you could see the spire of Norwich cathedral. A walk to the fish wharf, especially during the herring season, was also popular, as was a stroll around the Yarmouth Rows.

Whilst the railways brought many trippers and holidaymakers into the region, the ports of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft were also an entry point for many hundreds more as paddle steamers began running from London and the South east coast. One of the most famous lines to run was the Belle Steamers Company and, amongst others, the “Walton Belle” and “Yarmouth Belle” became a regular sight coming in and out of Gorleston Harbour from the 1890s onwards.

For entertainment on board whilst cruising the Broads a piano could be hired for the larger yachts and wherries, it was also recommended that one brought along books or a hand of cards for rainy days. Suffling also suggested that yachting parties bring lawn tennis sets and cricket equipment with them to set up on the riverbanks, obviously with little concern for the landowners! George Christopher Davies made comment on this, telling his readers: “Pray don’t take such absurd advice, all riparian owners adhere strictly to their just rights.”  Along with angling equipment, Suffling also advised that a gun should be taken as: Plenty of sport may be had in the early morning and at dusk among the dabchicks, coot, waterhens, pewits, snipe etc.”  Once again, Davies felt need to dismiss this suggestion: “Let me earnestly entreat visitors not to fire off guns either at birds or bottles above Acle Bridge. The sport to the visitors is nil, while the annoyance to the riparian owners is extreme.”

In the second edition of his “Land Of the Broads” book, published in 1887, Ernest Suffling documented a two week trip on board a cruiser which was powered by a steam engine. At 30’ in length, with a 7’6” beam, the “steam yacht” had a small American stove in the forepeak, a saloon/bedroom which slept four, and included a skipper/attendant. The Broads were promoted as being an area where poets and artists could find plenty of inspiration, where yachtsmen could find no better waters on which to sail, and where gentlemen sportsmen could fish and shoot to their hearts content. His guide paid particular attention to the architecture of Broadland churches and houses, local history and antiquities, and also included notes on angling and the flora and fauna which could be seen.

He also gave advice on hiring a boat and what the holiday would entail. A two man yacht, without a man, could be hired for around 30 shillings per week. A decked cutter to accommodate four or five, with a man, would cost £4, whilst a large wherry for twelve, complete with a crew, would be £12-14 per week. “Ladies on small yachts I consider out of place” he wrote, and recommended that they should only holiday on larger yachts and wherries which were suitable for mixed parties.  

On the subject of provisions, Suffling advised that certain foodstuffs would be difficult to obtain whilst out on the rivers and recommended that plentiful supplies of tinned meats, tinned fruit and vegetables and boiled, salt beef should be taken on board at the start of the trip. Fresh meat could not always be found in the villages and would not keep for much longer than a day anyway. Ice could be purchased from Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Oulton Broad, where it was used in vast quantities by the fishing industry, and this would help with the preservation of perishable foodstuffs. He wrote: “At most of the villages, bread, excellent butter, toothsome sausages, doubtful cheese, new laid eggs and fair water may be obtained. In the summer, however, dependence cannot be placed on getting them, as the hungry occupants of a large wherry, when they run short, will often clear a whole village of everything edible.”

What was “doubtful” about the cheese I’m not sure, but he also mentions elsewhere that: “Norfolk is noted for bad cheese, so beware!”

Both Suffling and Davies listed riverside accommodation for those who wanted to be land based. Many of the riverside inns had a few rooms which, although not luxurious, provided comfortable accommodation for visitors. Some of these included The Kings Head and The Horseshoes at Wroxham, Buckenham Ferry Inn and Surlingham Ferry House, The Falgate at Potter Heigham, The Watermans Arms at Stalham and the Wherry Inn at Oulton Broad. The Wherry also provided light refreshments or substantial meals. As Broadland began to adapt to cater for this new tourist market, enterprising villagers and farm owners also began to let out spare rooms to guests during the summer months and provided breakfasts or tea for yachting parties. Some of the inns also hired out rowing boats, cabin yachts and steam launches.

It is interesting to note that in the 1880s bad conduct was being noticed amongst certain groups of visitors to the Broads with reports of drunken, noisy revellers who had no respect for the wildlife or surroundings and steam launches travelling at full speed past moored yachts, causing the fully laid tables to have their contents spilled onto the cabin floors. Reports of similar behaviour still abound today, but it would appear not to be the modern phenomenon that it is held to be.

As the demand for boating holidays increased, trading wherries were being temporarily converted for hire during the summer months, reverting back to carrying cargo in the autumn. The wherries and larger yachts were hired out with two crew members on board, a skipper to sail them and a steward who would cook, clean and attend to the needs of the party on board. Some crews began to build a better reputation for reliability and honesty than others and this became yet another marketing tool for the owners when advertising their boats for hire. Some boats were described as being suitable for mixed groups of ladies and gentlemen while others were deemed suitable for all male parties only. Boating was still largely a male dominated pastime, and there were strict rules on decency set down should females be present, with separate cabins for ladies and gentlemen. George Christopher Davies wrote: “Bathe only before eight o’clock in the morning, if in sight of other vessels or moored in a frequented part of the river. Ladies are not expected to turn out before eight, but after that time they are entitled to be free from any annoyance.”  He adds: “Young men who lounge in the nude state on boats whilst ladies are passing may be saluted with dust shot, or the end of a quant.”  Houseboats were also becoming a popular choice for holiday retreats, some being quite lavish affairs whilst others were little more than the hull of an old ship with a shed built on top.