An octet of wherries and other Broads classics

A wherry is a type of boat traditionally used for carrying cargo on the Broads, with one huge sail and a shallow draught for shallow waterways.

Two Broads trading wherries remain, identifiable by their black hull and sail. Albion was built in 1898 at Lake Lothing, near Oulton Broad and worked on the southern Broads rivers. In the 1930s Albion’s name was changed to Plane and the wherry continued trading on the River Yare, or the Norwich river, as it was often known by wherrymen, right up to the war years. Eventually, stripped of all the gear, Albion became a lighter (a towed cargo barge) for the mustard manufacturers Colman's and was still doing this work when the Norfolk Wherry Trust took over in 1949. The trust has been maintaining Albion in sailing condition ever since. Cared for and crewed by volunteers, today Albion is based at Ludham and offers open days, sailing trips and holidays all over the Broads. The income from these activities is used to keep Albion afloat and active.

Maud was built in 1899 at Reedham and was extensively restored in the 1980s and 90s – restoring a wherry is always a long and painstaking job! In the early days Maud carried timber and general cargoes for Jewson and other firms. Later Maud was used for carrying mud as part of dredging operations. Wherry Maud Trust now looks after Maud and offers sailing to members of the trust (everyone is very welcome to join) and many events for the public.

The Victorians and Edwardians were the first to ‘discover’ and enjoy holidays on the Broads. Some wherry owners converted trading wherries for holiday use and then in the early 20th century pleasure wherries were built, with the same black hull but with a white sail, and spacious, luxurious accommodation on board. The pleasure wherry Solace was built at Reedham in 1903 and is privately owned but can still be seen out on the Broads.

Pleasure wherry Hathor, built at Reedham in 1905 for sisters Ethel and Helen Colman, is part of Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust’s fleet of five wherries. When not in sailing use, Hathor is moored at How Hill from May to September and visitors are welcome on board for a look around, including the spectacular Egyptian-themed interior. Though built later, at Oulton Broad in 1927, Ardea (also owned by the trust) is another pleasure wherry, with a unique varnished teak hull. Ardea spent many years in Paris as a houseboat on the River Seine but returned to Norfolk for restoration, completed in 2006.

The trust’s other wherries are all wherry yachts, designed to combine the size of a wherry with the deck space of a yacht. They have white hulls and white sails. These three wherries were all built by Ernest Collins, a famed Wroxham boat-builder, whose yard was just below the bridge on the Wroxham side of the River Bure (near the present Broads Tours site and the trust’s current base). The 1908 Blakes boating holiday catalogue thanks the 'numerous clients' for their support to Ernest Collins, 'and also for their expressions of satisfaction with his Pleasure Craft, which we can safely say cannot be surpassed on the Norfolk Broads.' Olive, Norada and White Moth were built at Wroxham in 1909, 1912 and 1915. Between them the trust’s wherries offer open days, sailing trips and holidays, with the income funding their vital restoration and maintenance work.

The wherry trusts all welcome volunteers.

Wherries are the largest but by no means the only classic craft on the Broads. There are numerous smaller wooden sailing boats built to unique Broads designs, which you’ll see on the broads and rivers, sailed and cared for by their many enthusiasts. Some are a bit later than the wherries, not quite 100 years old, but not far off, dating from the first part of the 20th century, such as the 1930s Norfolk Heritage Fleet, based at Hunter’s Yard at Ludham, and available to hire for holidays and two-hour skippered taster sailings.

Our boating pages and boating listings will help you find out about the fantastic range of boating activities on the Broads. There’s something for everyone – however energetic or relaxing you’d like it to be!