River Waveney

The River Waveney and Ellingham Lock

The River Waveney is 59 miles long from it's source at Redgrave to join Yare at Breydon Water and out to sea at Great Yarmouth. It's slow flowing and meandering becoming tidal as far as Ellingham Weir. In the past there have been 15 water mills drawing power for over 900 years. It's the most southernly of Broadland rivers forming the boundry between Norfolk and Suffolk. There were three (or four if Shipmeadow is included) locks for wherries to navigate up to Bungay, until navigation closed in 1934. In March 1670 an Act of Parliament was passed to improve navigation between Beccles and Bungay, thus improving trade. Owning the navigation rights was a lucrative business.

A wherry approaching Ellingham Lock, Ellingham Mill on the left.

c 1910 The bar across the lock ensured that wherries took down their mast to avoid racing through and causing damage. (from Norfolk Mills Website)

The Wherry Albion. Commissioned by WD and AE Walker, built by William Brighton in 1898 at Lake Lothing, skippered by Jack Powley for 20 years. Seen here on the Broads for pleasure cruises. Having been bought by the Norfolk Wherry Trust in 1949 she was used by Colman's within their works at Carrow until 1952, when the Trust made heavy losses and The Albion was let for summer holidays for young people on the Broads.

The wherry Albion at Bungay Staithe

Ellingham Lock c1969 (Joe Pye)

Ellinghham Lock (Carl Adams)

Ellingham Lock (Carl Adams)

Boys fishing in Ellingham Lock ( Steve Harvey)

Elligham Lock (Steve Harvey)

The old lock sealed off from the river except for the Environment Agency's attempt to create an Eel passage, now out of use as it was not effective.

In 1969 the road bridge over the Waveney at Ellingham was washed away, necessitating construction of a new one. The new bridge was built by East Suffolk and Norfolk River Authority (pictures from Joe Pye)