Norfolk Broads Waterside Buildings Listed

The Waterside buildings – Dutch Tutch, Towerview, The Eel Sett and The Holt in Potter Heigham, and Staithcote in Wroxham – are unique in character to the Broads National Park.

The creative building designs include the conversion of an end-of-pier helter skelter, prefabricated structures by the company who created Scott’s Antarctic expedition huts, one of the only remaining eel setts in England, and a picturesque rustic building added to a boathouse.

Dutch Tutch, Potter Heigham, Norfolk

Dutch Tutch began life as a helter-skelter at the end of the Britannia Pier in Great Yarmouth.

In December 1909, the pier caught fire, and the remains of the helter-skelter were transported to Potter Heigham.

In 1910, the lower section was used to create a 2-storey holiday cottage, with the very top of the structure used as an outbuilding.

The whole building, including ceilings, is lined with matchboard panelling. The winding timber stair, reminiscent of its original purpose as a helter skelter, sits within an enclosed stair tower. Windows wrapping around 3 sides at the first-floor level give remarkable views across the Broads landscape.

Towerview, Potter Heigham, Norfolk

It is thought that Towerview was erected on the riverbank at Potter Heigham in the first decade of the 20th century.

The bungalow was created using prefabricated materials produced by Boulton & Paul Limited, a Norwich-based iron foundry, prefabricated building and wire netting manufacturer who created the huts for Scott’s Antarctic expedition.

There is evidence that the current building began life as 2 huts that were bolted together end to end when they were relocated to the riverbank at Potter Heigham.

The walls are clad in vertical tongue and groove timber, and the pitched roofs are covered in corrugated metal and protected by barge boards with moulded cornices.

The bungalow faces out over a garden towards the River Thurne, and to the rear is a public footpath connecting the riverbank to the medieval bridge at Potter Heigham.

The Eel Sett, Potter Heigham, Norfolk

The tradition of eel catching in the Broads dates to the medieval period.

An eel sett was a place for eel catchers to put out nets at night and a room for their accommodation. These setts were typically in isolated and rural places along the river.

There were many setts along the rivers in Norfolk, but numbers dramatically started to dwindle in the 20th century.

The Eel Sett at Candle Dyke is thought to be the last in England. Its architectural style and evidence from mapping and photography dates it to the early 20th century. It was in commercial use until it was purchased by a trust in 1992.

A single-storey building with 1 room, the building is a simple structure with vertical boarding, a tarred finish, a profiled red metal roof, and a projecting ‘Stop Eel Net’ sign. Inside are 2 wooden bunks, a stove, cupboards and a freestanding sink.

The Holt and Boathouse, Potter Heigham, Norfolk

Built in the early 20th century, The Holt was created for a Mr W. Boning, who had a furnishing business in Great Yarmouth.

Much of the furniture present in the Holt is originally from Boning’s shop.

The property was purchased by a Mr Churchill in the early 1930s and changed hands again in the late 1930s.

It is likely that The Holt is a Boulton & Paul prefabricated structure. A single-storey waterside bungalow, it is Tudoresque in style, featuring a thatched roof with scalloped edge detailing and half-timber walls. The bungalow’s design mirrors that of the already existing boathouse.

Staithcote, Wroxham, Norfolk

Originally built in 1911 as a boathouse, Staithcote was extended, with the addition of a waterside chalet above, by 1913. The 1.5-storey chalet is timber-framed with weatherboarded walls to the boat house and a roof thatched with Norfolk reed.

It is a particularly well-preserved building in the tradition of cottage orné (a rustic building of picturesque design). Later additions to the interior include a 1960s floating staircase and Arts and Crafts-style doors with Pilkington’s shiplyte glass.