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The 1950's research proved that The Norfolk Broads were a man-made phenomenon.
Many people thought this was ludicrous - how could man possibly have created these outstanding waterways and why?
Yet the research, showing that the sides of the deep lakes were ‘vertical’ and not gently sloping as would be expected of a naturally formed lake, coupled with the historical evidence of ‘peat demand’, all supported the theory.
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Imagine a time where there are no mod cons, no electricity and certainly no mechanical diggers - just sheer ‘man (and more than likely *women too*) power’ and a need to survive in what would have been difficult and unforgiving times.
In the 12th Century the population of east Norfolk was growing rapidly and the area was documented to be the most densely populated in Britain.
Materials for living were scarce; timber and fuel supplies were drained as much of the woodland areas were cleared and a new source of fuel needed to be found. It was at this time that peat digging, also known as ‘turbary', was tapped into and this provided a suitable fuel alternative. It was probably started during Anglo-Saxon times
The extraction of peat would have been a difficult and unpleasant task, requiring great physical effort. Yet it was a prosperous industry and provided fuel for both individual families and manors, with a greater proportion being sold.
Digging took place throughout all the east Norfolk settlements until the 14th Century, when finally nature overcame man's force.
The massive holes that had been created by digging the peat gradually, began to fill with water as the sea levels rose.
Flooding was taking place on a regular basis and peat extraction was simply no longer possible.
As these ‘holes' began to fill the now popular tourist destination of The Norfolk Broads was starting to form!
Over 200 km of navigable Broads and rivers were created by peat digging and these provided essential channels for communication and commerce throughout the 16th Century.
The next largest city to London was Norwich and it was the second largest City in England!! It was tradable goods of wool, weaving and agricultural produce were exported throughout the world from the local port of Great.Yarmouth.
One of the earliest forms of transport across the Broads was the Norfolk Wherry, which could carry around 25 tons of goods and was in service for around 200 years.
While people have always used The Norfolk Broads for a bit of recreation, the beginnings of ‘tourism’ ultimately began with the arrival of the railway in the mid 1800s allowing more visitors to come to the region.
In turn the boat hiring business was begun and is still a very popular pastime for visitors to the region.
P.S. Dear Jon is not my brother, by the way. I'm looking into my paternal genealogy to see if we might have some common relatives somewhere. But he is definitely in my family of friends!