NHER 20492 (Monument record) - Site of the Norfolk Keel (destroyed)

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Summary

This was the only known surviving example of a Norfolk Keel, a clinker-built boat used as a general purpose cargo and passenger carrier, and the backbone of the county's waterborne transport for about a thousand years before being superceded by the wherry. This was one of the last of the type to be built, and dated to the late 18th century. It was used as a timber transporter before being used in dredging operations, eventually being sunk in 1890 as support for a river bank. The wreck was briefly raised and examined in 1912, before being sunk again. Finally raised properly in 1985, there were plans to conserve and exhibit the boat, but the project was beset with difficulties, not least the inability to find it a permanent home. In 2010 the boat was being stored at Whitlingham, but still unconserved. Sometime in 2012 the remains were destroyed.

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Location

Map sheet TG20NE
Civil Parish NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK
Civil Parish KIRBY BEDON, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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25 June 1984.
In west bank of river, in an old inlet: probably the one marked on the map at the grid reference given, but location is difficult.
Well-preserved keel, sunk in 1890, lifted 1912, filled with sand ballast, run into an inlet and covered with building rubble.
Next to it a Thames barge.

Site visited by Archaeological Diving Unit and Wherry Trust for feasibility study for clearing and lifting.
A.Gregory (NAU), 26 June 1984

Lifted September 1985 intact and taken to Hales Hall for conservation. Said to have been constructed after 1800.
E. Rose (NAU), 1 October 1985.

No conservation was in the event carried out and the remains were soon afterwards removed from Hales and taken to King Street, Norwich, where they remain in 1993 in a deteriorating condition.
E. Rose (NLA), 10 February 1993.

October 1997-February 1998. Structural Survey.
The Norfolk Keel was surveyed by the Norfolk Archaeological Unit whilst it was at Cannon Wharf, King Street. The plans and elevations produced provide a detailed record of the construction methods and allow a reconstruction of its origins lines. Suggestion that the craft was made around 1790.
This work was commissioned by the Norfolk Keel Trust.
See report (S1) for further details. This work is also noted in (S2).
An associated archive has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2022.245).
P. Watkins (HES), 18 March 2015. Amended 5 December 2022.

Removed in 1998 to Rhone Poulenc, Norwich for conservation. Proposed eventual display in King Street.
E. Rose (NLA), 21 April 1998.

2001.
The keel is back on land at Whitlingham, still unconserved.
E. Rose (NLA), 5 November 2001.

The whole history recorded in press cuttings (S3) to (S12) in file. Up to date position not known.
P. Aldridge (NLA), 24 April 2006.

2010.
The keel is still at Whitlingham Barns. No change.
D. Gurney (NLA), 20 August 2010.

2012.
The remains of the keel have been torched (S13) and (S14).
D. Gurney (HES), 2 November 2012.

2013.
Confirmation that the remains have been destroyed (S15).
D. Gurney (HES), 20 March 2013.

  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • <S1> Unpublished Contractor Report: Donald, N. 1998. The Norfolk Keel. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 356.
  • <S10> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. [Articles on the finding and relocating of the Norfolk Keel].
  • <S11> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2000. [Article and letter to the editor on the slow progress of restoring the Norfolk Keel].
  • <S12> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2001. Historic boat looks like sinking fast. 5 November.
  • <S13> *Verbal Communication: Wilson, S.. 2012. [unknown].
  • <S14> Website: Aylsham Navigation. 2012. http://aylsham-navigation.norfolkparishes.gov.uk/2012/10/07/vandalism/. http://aylsham-navigation.norfolkparishes.gov.uk/2012/10/07/vandalism/.
  • <S15> *Verbal Communication: Stuart Wilson. 2013. [unknown].
  • <S2> Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 1998. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1997. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIII Pt I pp 193-210. p 201.
  • <S3> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1984. [Articles on the Norfolk Keel Trust raising funds and working on the Norfolk Keel].
  • <S4> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1985. [Articles on the removal of The Norfolk Keel from the River Yare#.
  • <S5> Newspaper Article: Norfolk Advertiser. 1985. Only surviving example of a "Norfolk Keel" raised from the Broads. 19 December.
  • <S6> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1986. Historic keel project is facing cash crisis. 11 February.
  • <S7> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1988. [Articles on the transporting of The Norfolk Keel to Cannon Wharf].
  • <S8> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1988-1996. [Articles on the disintegration and the potential restoration of the Norfolk Keel].
  • <S9> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1996. Keel history map. 31 October.

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Record last edited

Dec 5 2022 12:00PM

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