Broads memories unlocked on film
The results of a project to record people’s memories of the historic lock at Geldeston near Beccles were unveiled with a film screening at the Locks Inn.
A new interpretive sign about the site’s history was also unveiled to an invited audience on Tuesday May 24th.
The grandson of a former lock keeper and the son of a maltster who maintained the ancient lock are among those who came forward when former Anglia TV presenter Clare Weller, who now works as Head of Communications at the Broads Authority, publicised the project and asked people to share their stories and bring this piece of Broads history alive.
Shipmeadow Lock, which straddles the River Waveney, is the best preserved of three locks which enabled trading wherries to reach Bungay for 150 years until its closure in 1934.
Tales of an eccentric landlady who refused to serve more than one pint to customers and a landlord who had beer delivered by rowing boat when the pub was regularly flooded are among the stories that emerged. Many of those who were filmed attended the launch.
The project has been a joint initiative between the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Charitable Trust and the Broads Authority and was made possible with a grant from the Geoffrey Watling Trust.
Clare Weller said: “So many people have come forward we couldn’t possibly interview them all but everyone had great stories to tell – from ice skating on the frozen river in winter to tales of the exploits of the wherrymen and some of the rather eccentric landlords. When you think that the Lock’s Inn has no mains electricity even now and has always been prone to flooding, you can imagine that it takes quite a character to run it.”
Bryan Read, a trustee of the Broads Charitable Trust, said: "At the moment few people have any idea about the heritage of the lock at Geldeston. It has lots of visitors because it’s easily reached by boat, on foot and by cycle so the charity is delighted to be working with the Broads Authority to ensure that its history is properly recorded and interpreted for everyone to enjoy."
The film can be seen at www.enjoythebroads.com and a downloadable podcast which directs visitors on a walk around the lock is also available on our podcasts section. The film will also form part of a permanent exhibition in Beccles Museum and some of the memories will be used in an information pack for schools, which will tie in with the National Curriculum.
24/05/2011
