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BROADLAND SPORT 



trading wherry and filling the vacancy with glass windows, 

 partitioning off her hold into several cabins and upholstering 

 the interior with some idea of comfort. This example was 

 immediately followed by others, with additions and improve- 

 ments. These pleasure wherries are now let by the week, 

 including the services of two men, at prices varying from ten 

 to twenty guineas per week. 



The first wherry fitted permanently for pleasure cruising 

 was built by Mr Fred Farr of Beccles, about 1840, but these 

 craft did not come into general use, nor become popular, before 

 1880. 



Before 1880 yachts were almost all private arid very few 

 of them could be hired by strangers, but with the sudden 

 popularity of the broads the various yacht-letters collected 

 small fleets, which, during the all-too-short season they let to 

 their advantage. 



The idea of the pleasure wherry suggested a new craft to- 

 the waterways, namely, barge-yachts. The first of these was 

 the Lotus, built by Mr T. Branf ord of Great Yarmouth ; she was 

 followed by the Helen (Mr Burleigh of Hales worth) and the 

 Kiartia (Mr W. Cooper-Brown), now owned by Mr Vernon 

 D. Wilcock and still one of the best afloat, and many, many 



others, including the 

 Rambler of Oulton 

 Broad (Messrs W. S. 

 Parker and J. Col- 

 man); Thyrza (Mr 

 A. Weldon); Keen- 



BELOW-DECK PLAN OF THE "RAMBLER. 



aghmore, twenty-six tons (Sir R. Palmer, Bart.) ; Ianthe,iwenty- 

 four tons (Mr E. J. Poyser) ; Waveney, fifty-five tons (Mr J. T. 

 Poyser) now Mr F. Dowson of Norwich ; Heron, twenty tons 

 (Mr C. G. T. Treherne) ; and the Spider, twenty-four tons 

 (Mr J. R R. Godfrey). 



Amongst the early pleasure wherries, which were fitted 

 with all the comforts and luxuries that any ordinary tourist 

 to Broadland could reasonably require, may be included 

 the Leisure Hour, belonging to Mr G. Grimsell of Reed ham ; 



