OULTON BROAD AND NEIGHBOURHOOD 5 



their luck. During April and May little angling is done ; at 

 the same time, it is not prohibited, and is free to all. In June, 

 July, August and September, perch, roach, bream and dace 

 bite freely, and can be caught until the angler tires of pulling 

 in the fish. From October to Christmas pike generally claim 

 attention in preference to other fish. 



But to return to our imaginary wanderings. We arrive 

 at Carlton Colville Station, where the baggage and kit is 

 left to the care of the obliging stationmaster, whilst tempor- 

 ary lodgings are sought. 



We can hardly be called entire strangers to the locality, 

 having visited it before, and profiting by experience we waste 

 no more time than is necessary, but take the road straight to 

 Mutford Bridge, a structure spanning the lock which divides the 

 parish of Oulton from the parish of Carlton Colville. The first 

 bridge built was supposed to have been constructed of timber 

 from Mutford Wood (probably a contraction of Mud-ford), 

 which is one of the largest coverts for miles around, and 

 celebrated for its excellent shooting. This wood lies four or 

 five miles to the south of the lock. As a natural sequence, 

 the hamlet of cottages lying immediately contiguous to 

 the bridge became known as Mutford Bridge, and when 

 the railway was made from Norwich to Lowestoft (by Sir 

 Morton Peto) the station at Oulton was also called "Mut- 

 ford Bridge," a name which remained unchanged until 

 about 1890, when it was renamed " Oulton Broad/' 



This bridge is the loafing-ground of the locality, and here 

 all the " know-alls " assemble in great force. 



A few minutes' conversation with this interesting group 

 will give us information which would otherwise take a 

 stranger some days to collect by himself, for example: 

 What lodgings are to let, what are occupied ; who is stay- 

 ing in the village and all about them; the state of the 

 weather, the water, the wind, the tides; the sport, past, 

 present and to come; the boats on the water and the boats 

 that have gone; the new ones built, what they have done 

 and are expected to do ; who has been recently married 



