INTRODUCTION. XIX 



lakes, would attract our notice, and appear, probably, in 

 the distance as one large sheet of water. From 

 Ormesby, the Yarmouth Water Works receive their 

 supply, and the whole chain, comprising some seven 

 hundred acres, discharges through the "Muck-fleet" 

 into the Bure, below Acle Bridge. Beyond these, and 

 somewhat farther to the north, we should see Martham 

 Broad on the Thurne, and connected also with the 

 ^'^ Hundred stream," on the further bank, Ludham 

 Broad, and the wide expanse of Heigham Sound, 

 communicating both with Hickling and Horsey Mere. 

 Hickling Broad, with the exception of Breydon, the 

 most extensive, is computed at upwards of three miles 

 in circumference, and covers about four hundred acres ; 

 Horsey Mere, within a mile of the sea, one hundred 

 and thirty acres.'^ Further still, in the distance and 

 to the west of Hickling, a bright glimmer amongst 

 the trees would mark the site of another group, 

 including the fine waters of Barton and Irstead, with 

 Stalham and Sutton Broads in close proximity, all 

 communicating at various points with the navigable 

 river Ant. Aiid Dilham Broad, within three miles of 

 Happisburgh, with East Euston Common (one of the 

 few ^^wet" commons now remaining in Norfolk), would 

 still come within the limits of our imaginary triangle. 



Again, tracing back the course of the "reluctaat 

 Bure" from its junction with Breydon water, we should 

 find, massed together as it were, between the mouth of 

 the Thurne and Wroxham Bridge, South Walsham Broad 

 and Ranworth, with its decoy, Salhouse, Wroxham, and 



* The estimated extent of the larger Broads has been taken 

 from "White's Gazetteer" and Nail's "Handbook of Great Yarmouth 

 and Lowestoft." I have never been able to obtain a satisfactory 

 explanation why Horsey should be so commonly termed a Mere, 

 whilst all similar waters, in this neighbourhood, are as constantly 

 called Broads. 



