A wherry boat at center and other smaller sailboats make their way on the River Yare in the area of Buckenham Ferry.

This ferry, which author Steve Silk describes as being known in the old days as a horse ferry, (pontoon style) made crossings here from Carleton St Peter to Buckenham as early as 1487. (1.) The ferry ended operations in 1938. From the Broadland Memories Blog, we learn a mishap involving seven tons of sugar beets being transported on a lorry, in which failure to apply its handbrake during the crossing caused the vehicle to plunge into the river, forcing the closure. (2.)

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.” (3.) 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. George Munford, An Attempt to Ascertain the True Derivation of the Names of Towns and Villages and of Rivers, and Other Great Natural Features of the County of Norfolk, Simpkin, Marshall & Company, 1870, p.76. Entry: “BUCKENHAM FERRY; in D.D.B. Bucanaham, Bucham, Buchanaham. The additional name FERRY was imposed as soon as there was a ferry over the YARE at this place, which was at least as early as 1487, for then Sir John Jermy styled himself, in his will, of BUCKENHAM FERRY. This ferry when first established must have been of some importance, as Parkin tells us, Sir Thomas Kerdeston, in the 26th of Henry VI., appears by his will to have had a third part of its profits, which came to him by descent. For the derivation of BUCKENHAM see above.”
2. Steve Silk: the Wheryyman’s Web Blog. In his book The Wherryman’s Way, published by Halsgrove in 2010, he interviewed retired farm worker and octogenarian Cecil Nicholls who used to help operate the ferry and  who remembered the events which forced the ferry to cease operating…
3. George Christopher Davies: Wikipedia accessed September, 2025