A summer evening at Horning Ferry is always full of interest. Anglers are coming in laden with fish; yachts round to and lower their sails to make snug for the night, and their crews gravitate to the inn, where the best of good cheer is obtainable. Perhaps, in addition to the fishing and boating men, there is an entomologist in search of the swallow-tailed butterflies which abound here, or of the other rarities for which this district is famous among collectors: and when the summer night descends, and pipes and grog are the order of the night, gossip of the water, of fish, and of natural history, makes the hours go by only too swiftly. ⎯ G. Christopher Davies, 1883 (1.) 

“The River Bure is a river in the county of Norfolk, England, most of it in the Broads.^[1] The Bure rises near Melton Constable, 11 miles (18 km) upstream of Aylsham, which was the original head of navigation. Nowadays, the head of navigation is 10 miles (16 km) downstream at Coltishall Bridge. After Aylsham Lock and Burgh Bridge, the Bure passes through Buxton Lammas, Coltishall, Belaugh, Wroxham, Horning, past St. Benet’s Abbey, through Oby, Acle, Stokesby, along the northern border of the Halvergate Marshes, through Runham and Great Yarmouth where it meets Breydon Water and flows into the sea at Gorleston.” –Wikipedia accessed 2025

George Christopher Davies: 1849-1922

Davies was “a prolific photographer and writer who played an important role in encouraging popular awareness of the Norfolk Broads.” (2.) The following biography of the artist courtesy: Norfolk Through a Lens: A guide to the Photographic Collections held by Norfolk Library & Information Service –

Born in Shropshire, Davies practised as a solicitor for a time; he first came to Norfolk in 1871 to serve part of his articles. He was later to become Chief Clerk at Norfolk County Council in 1906, also serving as Clerk of the Peace. In his private life he was a nature lover, sportsman and photographer. His skills as a writer did much to popularise the Norfolk Broads as a rural idyll and holiday destination. When he was 27 he wrote ‘The Swan and her Crew’ an adventure story for boys set in the Norfolk Broads which created a great interest and enthusiasm for the area. His major work ‘Handbook to the Rivers and Broads of Norfolk and Suffolk’ was published in 55 editions and contained 12 of his own photographs. Davies also produced other books about the Broads, sailing, Belgian waterways, natural history, fishing, adventure books for children and even some on government administration. Towards the end of his life he acquired Burnt Fen Broad and spent many hours there during his retirement.

1. Excerpt, G. Christopher Davies: Norfolk Broads and Rivers: Or, The Water-ways, Lagoons, and Decoys of East Anglia, William Blackwood & Son, Edinburgh and London, p. 68
2. George Christopher Davies: Wikipedia accessed September, 2025