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© C.Gingell 2006-2026 All photographs, personal stories and written articles on this site are copyright and should not be reproduced anywhere else without the permission of the copyright owner and Broadland Memories.
© Broadland Memories 2006-2026
1950s History
1950s Memories
The following pictures have been submitted by John Hopthrow and feature the pleasure wherry “Dragon” who was owned by his father, Brigadier H.E. Hopthrow during the 1950s. Extracts from Dragon’s original sailing logs can be found in the personal memories section of the archive.
An aerial photograph of Barton Regatta from the early 1950s featuring the wherries “Dragon”, “Sundog” and “Lorna Doon”.
The wherry “Claudian” under sail at Barton Regatta in 1950. Claudian was sadly lost on Lake Lothing in the 1953 floods.
The last ever wherry race at Barton Regatta in 1950. You can just see the black sail of Albion on the left, then Ardea, Dragon and Claudian.
The wherries Ardea, Albion, Dragon and Claudian pictured during the last ever wherry race at Barton Regatta in August 1950. You can read an account of that race here.
The new sign at Barton Turf pictured in 1953, pointing to the staithe in one direction and Pennygate in the other.
The start of the Breydon wherry race at Burgh Castle in 1952. “Dragon” is in the foreground with “Albion” and “Hathor” behind.
A picture of the wherry race on Breydon from August 1952. “Dragon” and “Hathor” have run aground on the left whilst “Albion” overtakes.
The aftermath of the Breydon Wherry race of 1952 showing “Albion” with her mast broken. You can read an account of that race here.
B907 the wherry “Dragon” at Barton c1952.
Barton Turf c1952. In the foreground is B67 “Elnora” a Norfolk One design dinghy, in the background is an unknown pleasure wherry which was apparently known locally as the “Yellow Wherry”.
This and the following three photographs were sent in by Bill Henderson and were taken in 1958 during a holiday taken with The Burnt Ash Congregational Church from London. The party of young people stayed on the converted ex-admiralty MTB “Foynes”, pictured above at Oulton Broad. “Foynes” was a "2-tube" Vosper Motor Torpedo Boat which was around 70 feet in length
Joan Henderson relaxing on the deck of “Foynes” in August 1958. Her future husband had cycled all the way from Birmingham to join the party for the week!
Pictured on “Foynes” is the organiser of the trip, Ron Batt, and the girls in the party from 1958.
Another picture of “Foynes” at Oulton Broad in 1958. Included in the hire price were a sailing dinghy, a rowing dinghy and a motor launch.
Y36 “Sea Earl” from A.G.Ward’s yard at Thorpe St Andrew, pictured during the 1950s.
Another boat from A.G.Ward’s of Thorpe - Y79 pictured in the 1950s.
The first of four photographs submitted by Brian Powell taken at Oulton Broad in 1958. Here you can see the Wherry Hotel pictured in the background.
Another picture taken at Oulton Broad in 1958 - on the left you can see a fire engine and crew who appear to be attending to a fire onboard a moored boat.
Looking out over Oulton Broad in 1958 - the large vessel in the centre of the picture is an RAF air sea rescue boat which is moored at Wherry Quay.
Another photograph of the Wherry Hotel at Oulton Broad from 1958.
The next collection of images were submitted to the archive by Bob Righton and were taken over the course of two Broadland holidays in 1950 and 1955.
B821 “Janet IV” from Martham Boat Development Company, pictured moored at Acle Bridge in 1950.
Another picture from 1950 of Janet IV, with dinghy, this time moored in Wroxham.
The first of two pictures taken at Stalham in 1950.
Another photograph of Stalham from 1950.
This is believed to have been taken at the Chumley and Hawke yard in Horning in 1955.
Another picture from the same location in 1955.
The Upper Bure between Wroxham and Coltishall, taken in 1955.
B 559 “Sheerline 1” from Chumley and Hawkes of Horning, believed to be moored at the Pleasure Boat dyke at Hickling in 1955.
The Pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling pictured in 1955.
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