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Wroxham
Wroxham lies on the River
Bure approximately five miles north of
Norwich and is regarded by
many as the 'Capital of the Broads'. It was here - in
the late 19th century - that John Loynes started the
first boat hire business in the Broads. Wroxham is also
well known for its own supermarket: 'Roys of Wroxham'.
However, the shop is actually located in Hoveton -
but then 'Roys of Hoveton' doesn't have the same ring
about it!
Arthur Ransome
Arthur Ransome used to visit Wroxham in the 1930s and
hired cruisers from the town, and in his story Coot Club (1934)
Dick and Dorothea arrive at Wroxham railway station from
Norwich. Here they meet Mrs Barrable who they are going
to spend a holiday with on her boat the Teasel.
Mrs Barrable takes the children from the railway station
down to the River Bure where they catch a motor launch
to Horning - where her boat is moored. Here is a nice
passage from the book describing the hustle and bustle
of riverside life in Wroxham:
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'There were boats everywhere, and boats of all kinds,
from the big black wherry with her gaily painted mast,
loading at the old granary by Wroxham bridge, and meant
for nothing but hard work, to the punts of the boatmen
going to and fro, and the motor-cruisers filling up with
petrol, and the hundreds of big and little sailing
yachts tied to the quays, or moored in rows, two and
three deep, in the dykes and artificial harbours beside
the main river.' |
Before writing his Swallows and Amazons books
for children Ransome
worked as a journalist in Russia during the revolution.
His second wife, Evgenia Shelepin, was originally
Trotsky's secretary and he risked his own life to help
her escape from Russia.
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Wroxham |
The Singing Postman also mentions Wroxham in his famous
song Hev
Yew Gotta Loight Bor. In fact, it was here that
his sweetheart - Molly Windley - lived:
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I had a gal, a
rare nice gal, down in Wroxham way
She were whooly nice ter me in the ole school days. |
One of Allan Smethurst's influences was the
ukulele-playing entertainer George Formby who also has a
link with Wroxham. Formby once owned a holiday home in
the village called Heronby - which was located on
the
banks of the River Bure.
See also The
Broads.
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Links:
Arthur
Ransome Society |
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Supported
by Norfolk Tourism