This part of the site is dedicated to a form of transport which predated the railways - the only true canal in Norfolk.
Introduction
The North Walsham and Dilham Canal was the only official canal in Norfolk and was a late build canal, opening in July 1826. It was constructed to a wider gauge than older canals to accomodate Norfolk's traditional trading vessels, the wherries.
The canal carried mostly manure, offal, flour and corn though it also carried farm produce from Antingham Ponds to Great Yarmouth market. Coal was carried on the canal but it never reached the amounts that had been predicted as road transport proved more economic.
By 1886 the canal was in serious trouble, and it's owners attempted to introduce a new traffic - tourist pleasure craft! By 1893, however, the section of route between Antingham and Swafield was abandoned due to lack of use.
The last wherry to use the canal, Ella, departed Bacton Wood Staithe in 1934. The canal quickly silted up and became derelict. The canal was never nationalised, and remains the property of the North Walsham Canal Company
The canal is being restored and those interested can contact the East Anglian Waterways Association, who hold monthly working parties on the canal, for more information.
The wherries were the traditional trading craft of the broads, developed from the smaller Norfolk Keel.
Two trading wherries remain active on the Broads, along with five pleasure wherries and wherry yachts. A further example can be found used a houseboat in France. The most famous is Albion, owned by The Norfolk Wherry Trust, who have a detailed and interesting web site.