“There is one happy hunting-ground still left to these water-abiders, and that is Rockland Broad. This is a shallow sheet of water, about sixty acres in extent, communicating by half-a-dozen dykes with the river Yare. …Rockland Broad stands upon copyhold ground; and the tenants of the manor have a joint right of fishing with the lord, but must not sell their fish.. Happily, however, for the persons who live by and on the Broad, it is worth no one’s while to enforce the latter restriction, and the fish that are caught are freely sold..” ⎯ G. Christopher Davies, 1883 (1.)

Rockland Broad is an area of open water, known as a broad, located north east of the village of Rockland St. Mary in the English county of Norfolk. The broad is in the Broads protected area. It comprises an area of approximately 50 acres (200,000 m²) and is surrounded by marshland and tall reed beds. It is linked to the River Yare by two dykes, the Short Dyke and the Fleet Dyke.– Wikipedia (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, pp. 124-5
2. George Christopher Davies: Wikipedia accessed September, 2025