Summer Wanderings in Norfolk

Scenes from the Norfolk Broads and the local villages and nature surrounding them.

The film begins on the Broads. An unidentified windmill is features on the Broads scenes along with shots of wherries and sailing and motor cruisers. There are shots of wherries filmed across the reeds. There are also shots of fields showing marshland plants.The film turns to the agricultural nature of Norfolk and shows a quiet Norfolk lane, fields in the background and poppies growing in the verges and hedgerows. A woman is picking poppies and a bicycle passes in the distance. At Castle Acre Priory there are shots of the ruins. The scene changes to Blickling Hall where a group in Tudor costume act out 'The Masque of Anne Boleyn' in the courtyard of Blickling Hall. Turning attention back to modern Norfolk, the film demonstrates implicitly the concerns of the country, showing a long shot of Weybourne anti-aircraft camp, and then an aerodrome. This may be RAF Bircham Newton. Planes are seen outside the hangers and in flight. These are believed to be Handley Page Heyfords. There are shots of the village featuring the duck pond at Boughton. At Blakeney, the cameraman takes a boat out of the harbour to the bird sanctuary at Blakeney Point. As the boat leaves the creek, there are shots back to the shore, showing the village and church and shots of the spit as the boat approaches. On the spit, many birds' nests are filmed and some baby Oyster-catchers. The boat returns to Blakeney.The final scenes are from Cromer. A crab boat is filmed on the beach with the Pier in the background. The fishermen, one of whom was Jack Davies, show some of the crabs they have caught and bring their catch onto the shore. Henry Blogg, the coxswain of the lifeboat and Jack Davies' step-brother, features. The last shot of the film is of the lifeboat at sea with a tanker in the foreground.

Featured Buildings

St. Nicholas' Church, Blakeney; Blickling Hall; Castle Acre Priory; Cromer Pier

Intertitles

The Norfolk Broads are perhaps the best known part of East Anglia. These quiet waterways are ideal for a restful holiday. Meres closeguarded by sentinel reeds. Flats where the marsh with the Ocean mingles. Norfolk is essentially an agricultural county. 'Through the dancing poppies stole a breeze'. Keats. The old Cluniac priory was founded in the time of William Rufus. Part of the ancient history of Norfolk is portrayed in 'the Masque of Anne Boleyn' at Blickling Hall.Cardinal Wolsey visits Sir Thomas Boleyn and is entertained by a display of country dancing.Anne Boleyn hears that King Henry VIII is coming to Blickling Hall. Modern England. An anti-aircraft camp and one of Norfolk's large aerodromes. 'From troubles of the world, I turn to ducks.' F.W. Harvey. From Blakeney Harbour we visit the bird sanctuary. It is the nesting season and Blakeney Point presents a scene of great activity. Baby Oyster-catchers hide their heads in the sand and hope to remain unnoticed. Norfolk was the birthplace of Lord Nelson, and this great Admiral always picked his crews from among the East Anglian fishermen. Crabs are particularly good from off this coast. Blogg, cox of the Cromer lifeboat, has been awarded two gold medals for saving life at sea. Shoals, formed by the sea's encroachment, make the bay so dangerous that it is called' The Devil's Throat'.

Other Places

Bircham Newton; Blakeney; Blakeney Point; Blickling; Boughton; Castle Acre; Cromer; Norfolk Broads; Weybourne

Background Information

The Masque of Anne Boleyn was written and produced by Nugent Monck. It was performed at Blickling Hall, Norfolk, by permission of the Most Hon. the Marquis of Lothian, CH, on August 8th, 9th and 10th at 3pm and 9 pm. The musical director was Cecil Smyly. Proceeds from the performances went towards the Aylsham Church Restoration Fund. Anne Boleyn was played by Hon. Jean Astley or Miss Catherine Youngs. Sir Thomas Boleyn was played by Aelwyn Williams and Cardinal Wolsey by Eric Burrows.For background information on Henry Blogg, see: Cromer, Norfolk, 1956, Gale Warning.