How many of us have visited Oulton Broad and the surrounding area knowing little about its history and heritage? Well now the Oulton Broad Enterprise, made up of residents and business owners in the area, have got together to bid for funding to revitalise the area and educate visitors about its history.

Our community reporter Kerry Burn went along to meet the Project Manager to find out more about the proposal and what this could mean for Oulton Broad.

For a change I managed to pick a bright sunny day to travel up the A12 to Oulton Broad. Normally when I travel this way I’m greeted by a cloudy day and showers.

Trevor Lynn, the Project Manager met me in front of the impressive Wherry Hotel overlooking the broads to start our walk round Oulton Broad.

First point of interest

Our first stop was the cycle path leading underneath the bridge. This will be the starting point for a new walk for visitors.

“We will have a number of signs on the walk giving historical information about the area” explained Trevor. “The first sign will be a copy of the 1783 map of Lothingland. Showing Lake Lothing before Oulton broad existed and the bridges were constructed.”

The Lock

Next Trevor showed me the lock, a Dutch Cantilever lock that was designed by Samuel Peto and used across Europe. Peto inherited his uncle’s building firm at 14 and came to Lowestoft in 1843, by 1847 had established a proper harbour and railway line.

“While pedestrians are waiting to cross the lock they can read the information board explaining where the design comes from and how the lock works.” Trevor added.

The Public Quay

We crossed the lock and carried on to the public quay which is currently in a bad state of repair. Trevor explained that this was where Oulton Broad Enterprise started their campaign.

“The sign we intend to erect here will explain the significance and heritage of the free quay and every persons right to free access to the broad. It will tell the story of the people that fought for the free quay and the people that built it”.

OBE hope that by resurrecting the free quay will encourage people to visit the area and find out more about its history and origins via the Heritage Walk Project.

And of course the project will also incorporate details of Sir Christopher Cockerel the inventor of the hovercraft and his connections with Oulton Broad. “He used to hire day boats from the public quay before he was famous” Trevor told me.

Nicholas Everitt Park

As we continue on our walk towards Nicolas Everitt Park Trevor explains about the further information plaques planned, including one about the Maltings, with photographs of the site when it was bombed during the war as well as information about fishing and wildlife on the Broads.

The Park was donated to the people of Lowestoft by Howard Hollingsworth, a local philanthropist, in memory of his great friend the first world war spy Nicholas Everitt. This is also the venue for powerboat racing – one of Hollingsworth’s great passions. Information boards in the park will display the history of the area’s boat building yards. This is where Hollingsworth commissioned the building of “The Heron” - probably the worlds finest Wherry.

Other signs will describe the different types of yachts that sail on he broad, the different classes of powerboat, and the history of the oldest powerboat-racing club in Britain.

Trevor also explained that although the park was a lovely setting it was starting to become a ‘no-go area’ at night due to the lack of lighting. The Heritage Project hopes to be able to finance some beacons to light up the park at night, enabling visitors and residents to enjoy the park into the evening.

Our tour ends

And so concluded our walk, Trevor and I finished our discussions over coffee and I was also introduced to Germaine , Chairperson of the OBE. I also got my first view of the road bridge going up as a boat entered the Broads, something of a novelty for me but the equivalent of being stopped by at railway gates for the residents.

This really is a very exciting project and I feel very privileged to have been involved so early on. I fully intend to keep in touch with the project’s progress and I am sure Trevor will keep me posted. We wish the group every success in their funding bid and hope as they do that the project can become a reality for visitors and locals.

My thanks to Trevor and Oulton Broad Enterprise for inviting me along to find out about their project, I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon walking in the sunshine of Oulton Broad.

For more information keep an eye open for the Oulton Broad Heritage Walk website coming to onesuffolk soon!!!!