Tag: images of Norfolk

Barton Turf’s winter slumber

Barton Turf on the Norfolk Broads – photo blog

The Norfolk broads aren’t only beautiful in summer, they have their charms all year round.

On a recent visit to Barton Turf, I pondered as to why people don’t take their boats out in winter too. There is so much to see and the vast Norfolk skies are spectacular all year round. You can see so much wildlife: owls, swans, geese, birds of prey, and sometimes, if you are really lucky… an otter.

I know the skies look threatening in the pictures above, but all you have to do is wear the right gear to fend off the raindrops and wind.

We discovered the boardwalk to Barton Turf broad this weekend. Such vast waters in which to enjoy the sky reflections. A magical and peaceful spot. I can’t wait to return as spring develops. It’s easy to access via wheelchair. I also spotted metal signs in braille.

Dogs aren’t allowed, other than assist dogs, so bear that in mind if you are visiting. I think this is because of concerns for the wildlife. I know this may upset some dog owners, but I’m sure they would appreciate that not all are responsible.

If you are planning to take photographs, I would recommend visiting early morning or late afternoon. This is when you will get the best light, and you are likely to see and hear more wildlife.

Stop, enjoy the peace. Take time to listen out for birdcall. The Norfolk Broads are made to be loved and appreciated.

Barton is the second largest of the Norfolk Broads at 0.6332 square miles, the largest broad in the Ant Valley. You can read more details about it here at NorfolkBroads.com

Scroll down to take a little walk down the boardwalk with me.

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Jarrold Bridge

Jarrold Bridge, Norwich. A photographic series of the River Wensum.

Canoeing with Thorpe Island Boats under the Jarrold Bridge

My River Wensum series starts with a photo tour of the bridges that cross it. I began with Carrow Bridge as it is the nearest to my apartment. Traveling along the Wensum up towards the city, the next bridge featured in this series is the Novi Sad Friendship Bridge, followed by the Lady Julian Bridge, and from there we arrived at the Foundry Bridge. If you were travelling towards the city by boat, to your left you would see Pull’s Ferry and Norwich Cathedral as you headed towards Bishop Bridge. The next curve is around the bend next to Cow Tower, with the Cathedral to the left, and apartments and offices to the right, where the next bridge is the Jarrold Bridge. 

The Jarrold Bridge

Back from ancient to modern again. Let no one say the Wensum doesn’t provide variety! 

The Jarrold bridge was designed by Stephen James of Ramboll (a company with 50 years of experience in bridge building) and built by local company R G Carter. Visit the Jarrold site to see all the awards this bridge has won and been short listed for. Truly impressive! You will also see other interesting facts there, such as the fact that the bridge slope is less than 1 in 20 for ease of use. It’s certainly nice to cycle over. If you are a bridge enthusiast and would like to know more about the construction of the Jarrold Bridge, SHStructures gives more technical information. I will tell you, however, it is just over 80m in length. I have never seen another bridge like it. I love the modern, clean curve of it and the location is perfect. 

Curve of the Jarrold Bridge over the Wensum
View to the Jarrold Bridge from the Wensum

From the top of the bridge you can enjoy the very natural view up towards Cow Tower and Mousehold Heath, lushly green with willows grazing the water. The bridge is just next to a car park, on the other side of which is the Adam & Eve pub, the oldest watering hole in Norwich. 

The view towards Jarrold Bridge in spring

The city view gives you the rear side of St James Mill, where Jarrold & Sons Ltd have their offices. Next door to St James Mill, new apartments are being built, so it is currently a construction site with a huge crane. I will return to St James Mill and the buildings along the Wensum in future posts. 

St James Mill where Jarrold have their offices.
View to the Jarrold Bridge in spring

The image above shows the ancient flint arch next to the ultra modern Jarrold Bridge.

From modern back to ancient, Whitefriar’s Bridge is the next bridge in this River Wensum series, which will feature not only bridges but go on to study the architecture, wildlife, and the current human life along the river. While the Wensum has a great history, life along the river continues to evolve and change, and I will be documenting that as the series continues.

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New Norwich prints at Photo4Me

River Wensum, Norwich prints by Sally Lloyd.

The River Wensum at dusk – canvas

Photo4Me is a print on demand site I use to sell my images. They provide a professional, high quality service with free UK delivery and I have happily been using them for years to sell my work.

Whenever I create a new image at Photo4Me, I will post here to show you what is newly available and show you what the picture could look like in your home or workspace.

If you have any queries or special requirements please feel free to use the contact page to get in touch.

The images are available in a variety of formats including: frames, canvas, acrylic and poster. You can choose from a variety of sizes too.

Here are my latest prints – The River Wensum at Dusk and Elm Hill in April. This image was shot from the Lady Julian Bridge with the Queen of Iceni on the left and the Waterfront on the right.

Choose canvas for that crisp modern look. Ideal for a modern apartment or loft as show above.

Different colour frames are available so you can decide which fits best with your colour scheme.

Visit here for more of my Norfolk prints city, coast and country.

Another newbie is Elm Hill in April. One of the oldest and most picturesque streets in the city of Norwich with its Tudor buildings and cobbles.

See more of my Elm Hill prints by day and by night via the link here.

Elm Hill in April click the link to buy

New prints coming very soon. Please subscribe to keep updated.

Bridges O’er The Wensum – Carrow Bridge

As part of my River Wensum photographic record, I am going to post about each of the bridges along the Wensum, starting here with Carrow Bridge.

Carrow Bridge is a lifting bridge. Unfortunately, I have never been lucky enough to see it lift up. I like to peer into the little control hut and imagine it in operation. Despite my best attempts to find a video of it opening, so far, I haven’t been successful. All I can find is a video of the test opening in 2018 to allow TS Lord Nelson aka HMS Vale pass through, which isn’t particularly interesting!

The current Carrow Bridge was constructed in 1923 to replace the old bridge to the South. More recently, there have been plans by the council to weld the bridge shut. Read a press release from the Norwich Society about this here. 

Reginald Dann, lived in Carrow Bridge House (the former bridge master’s house) for more than 50 years until it was sold at auction. Thankfully, a plan by the county council to demolish it was defeated by the city council.

You can see images of the bridge open here in an EDP article, when the TS Lord Nelson passed through in 2004. There is also a nice image in the article of the The ship “Paullgate” of Hull carrying cargo under Carrow bridge at the port of Norwich. Dated 20 May 1966. The TS Lord Nelson was eventually decommissioned and now rests in Bristol.

I walk across the bridge at least once every day, and I also cross it every night. I enjoy looking out over both sides of Carrow bridge, but my favourite view is looking back up the river past the Devil’s Tower towards old Paper Mill Yard.

You can read more about the history of the Devil’s Tower here – it is a virtually unique structure in England, built in the early 14th century. Directly opposite is the Windlass Tower.

I will write more about the Wensum Boom Towers in future posts.

A view further up from Carrow Bridge.

Up river towards the old Colman’s factory site.
The Broads Authority River Ranger making checks near Carrow Bridge

Carrow Bridge by night.

I frequently pass under the bridge, on the way into the city. It is a favourite spot for pigeons to court in the spring. There is also the occasional dove.

Sometimes swans sit in the wooden under-structure compartments as if they were stables. I am sure there is a technical name for the structure, but I have no idea what it is.

Carrow Bridge by night.

Eric and Erica, the Egyptian geese, like to perch on the wooden sidings that are there to guide boats through, but usually they are keeping guard on the river bank. Occasionally, a heron perches near the bridge too.

On summer nights, if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of bats performing aerobatics around the bridge.

Eric and Erica keeping watch near Carrow Bridge

Street Art under Carrow Bridge

Every now and then, new street art appears under the bridge. These images have disappeared now, which is a shame because I really liked them. They are preferable to the meaningless tagging that crops up everywhere (not meaningless to gangs, I guess, but still an eyesore). 

Image gallery image
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To see old pictures of Carrow Bridge and the rest of the city, you may enjoy visiting the Francis Frith Collection.

Subscribe to see the next post in my River Wensum photographic record. You could be in with a chance of winning a free notebook via my monthly giveaway if you enter your email in the box below.

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Sources used for this blog post: EDP24, The Norwich Society, the Francis Frith Collection, Norwich.Gov.uk, WivenhoeHistory.org.uk

Colour My Cover – March Giveaway

Every month I create a giveaway to thank subscribers for joining my website. All subscriber emails go into my magical rainbow mug at the end of the month and I pick out one (sometimes two or even three) to send a notebook too. Draw takes place on 31st March 2022.

For March, the giveaway is a notebook from my Colour My Cover collection. A series of notebooks with covers that you can colour in – get artistic and make your notebook uniquely yours using a medium of your choice. 80 lined pages inside.

At the moment the covers are all Norwich and Norfolk scenes but obviously not all of my subscribers are from this region so the giveaway is a beach hut cover notebook which is more generic (even though the image is from Wells-next-the-Sea).

I’m sorry but this is a giveaway for UK subscribers only. If you are outside of the UK and interested in buying a Colour My Cover notebook, please head to my collection at Amazon.com

There are lots of reasons to subscribe other than the giveaway of course. If you love photography, reading, art, notebooks, cards and prints, this is the place for you.

I am gradually populating the site with my photographic works, mainly Norfolk scenery but you will also find wildlife images and street photography.

As well as being a photographer, I also write short stories as @PetraKidd – as much as I love to write, I also enjoy promoting other authors too. If you head to the home page you will see featured writers from around the world, and local writers and their books too. If you happen to be a writer yourself and would like to be interviewed on this website, please email me at myriadlifebooks@gmail.com.

Look out for posts on photography, the photographers that inspire me, musings on photography and from time to time… photo tips.

I hope you will enjoy receiving updates and offers. Every time you buy a book, print or card from my collection, you are helping fund more short stories, images and helping me create happiness not just for me but for others too 🙂

Good luck with the giveaway draw!