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Another view of Oulton Broad about which Suffling commented;“This view shows the
end of the Broad which forms the winter quarters of the various yachts which are
only commissioned for summer cruising. Scores of yachts here float safely at anchor
during the winter storms awaiting the coming spring, when they expand their white
sails again and scud away to their various summer stations ready for the coming of
the visitors. The peculiarly constructed building towards the left of the picture
is an Ice-
The last picture in this collection taken by John Payne Jennings in the late 1880s
is of Beccles which Suffling described as; “A town of considerable importance, is
built upon the right bank of the Waveney in a commanding position. The Church is
one that should not be missed by visitors, as it is among the finest specimens of
ecclesiastical architecture in Norfolk.” and continued; “There are several angling
clubs in the town, which find plenty of amusement for their members during the winter
months, as the stretch of river on either side of the town is noted for its numerous
pike, which during the season are weighed-
Oulton Broad. In “Sun Pictures” this scene was described by Suffling thus;“This view depicts the East or busy end of the Broad which can usually boast of more yachts than any of the others as it lies so close to Lowestoft, two miles distant. Visitors can by passing through the lock into Lake Lothing and thence into Lowestoft Harbour, enjoy a sea trip whenever the sea is calm enough for a small yacht to venture out, which is nearly the whole of the summer. The house in which the erudite George Borrow, of ‘Romany Rye’ and ‘The Bible in Spain’ fame, lived and died, stands close to the edge of the Broad on the right hand. ” George Christopher Davies noted that; This is the most civilized of all the Broads, and is always gay with yachts sailing about, and populous with yachts lying at their moorings.”
More of John Payne Jennings photographs
The Woods End Inn at Bramerton;“There are few persons in Norwich who have not at some time in their lives visited ‘Bramerton Wood’s End’ and enjoyed themselves. It is to the Norwich holiday maker what Rosherville Gardens is to the Londoner, ‘The place to spend a happy day.’ It is very beautifully situated on the Banks of the Yare, about five miles from Norwich by water, so that it is within an easy pull of the Cathedral City. The Gardens in summer are a blaze of colour, as the landlord is a practical gardener and takes great pride in his extensive grounds which run for some distance by the water side” wrote Suffling. The 7 acre pleasure gardens which had been laid out at the Woods End were an extremely popular destination during the late 19th century and pleasure steamers, including the Jenny Lind, would run trips from Norwich on a daily basis.
Peter Henry Emerson was also photographing Broadland at the same time as John Payne
Jennings, but whilst Jennings captured scenes which were very much idyllic views
of The Broads aimed at the tourist market, Emerson’s photographs often portrayed
rural life and the people of Broadland. Emerson was born in Cuba in 1856, the son
of an English mother and an American father. Henry Ezekial Emerson left Massachusetts
for Cuba in 1826 to manage coffee plantations and Peter Henry (christened Pedro Enrique)
was the eldest of three children. His father died in 1867 and, with increasing levels
of civil unrest in Cuba, Emerson was dispatched to England for schooling in 1869,
later training to become a surgeon and gaining his medical degree in 1885. During
the early 1880s he developed an interest in photography and in 1886 abandoned his
career to concentrate on photography and writing, his first published work being
“Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads” in 1887. Emerson saw photography as an
art form and he developed a form of photography which he called “naturalism” where
he aimed to capture what the human eye saw in his images. His views caused much controversy
within the photographic societies and institutions of the time. His friend, the landscape
artist Thomas Frederick Goodall often advised Emerson on suitable subjects and composition,
and was co-
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This is probably one of P.H. Emerson’s most famous images of Broadland -
“Towing The Reed”
“During The Reed Harvest”
“Ricking The Reed”