Wherry Arch by Chris Weston

By Chris Weston

Those with long enough memories may recall a song often heard on 1950’s & 60’s radio programmes, called “The Railroad Runs Through the Middle of the House”.

Written in 1956 by Bob Hilliard, it was subsequently released as a Single record. But locally in one part of Broadland, is a property whose construction could also fit this title but only by exchanging Railroad for Waterway! For what appears to have been built as a red-brick two storey house between Barton Turf and Irstead, spans a section of waterway which flows through and beneath its centre! Known as Wherry Arch, the property was intentionally designed and built to be high enough for wherries to pass underneath it, but only with lowered masts. In its heyday, this aquatic passageway enabled trading wherries to load their wares from above or to reach other onward destinations. Records suggest the property was more likely to have been an early 19th century barn used for storing grain. Thought to have served Grove House - a nearby Georgian farmhouse - Wherry Arch has also been suggested by some as a possible waterway folly. The four-bedroomed property is now a bookable Broadland holiday residence, situated in secluded and unspoiled woodland. Unusually perhaps, one bedroom has no direct access to the main building except via balcony. As a building of architectural and historic interest, it also became Grade ll Listed on 12th May 1987 together with other properties in the locality.

© Chris Weston, April 2022

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