NHER 69159 (Monument record) - Site of 19th- and early 20th-century buildings adjacent to Wroxham Bridge

July 2016. Building Survey.
Examination of two adjoining timber sheds adjacent to Wroxham Bridge (NHER 8425), ahead of their proposed demolition. These single-storey buildings are of early to mid-20th-century date, both appearing in their present form on an Ordnance Survey map of 1938 but not on the preceding edition of 1906. They are attached to a 19th-century brick lean-to building which abuts the bridge itself.
They are clearly not traditional boat sheds and while their original use is unknown, it seems likely they were associated in some way with the boating/touring industry.
The sheds have felt roofs, painted horizontal timber boarding and a random arrangement of windows, which mainly consist of timber casements with glazing bars. The internal areas of the two sheds has been opened up into one large space to facilitate their present use as a restaurant. No internal fixtures or fittings of historic interest survive. These buildings are adjudged to be of very low significance.
See report (S1) for further details, including a full photographic survey. See also Heritage Impact Assessment (S2) – which indicates the original plan had been to retain the brick lean-to building adjacent to the bridge.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2025.

September-November 2016. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of demolition of existing structures and groundworks associated with construction of new restaurant building.
The first phase of work saw the demolition of the two early to mid-20th-century timber sheds occupying the site, along with the 19th-century brick lean-to building that stood between these structures and the Wroxham Bridge (NHER 8425). It had initially been planned that the brick building would be retained but it was found to be in poor condition and in danger of collapse. Its function remains uncertain. It may have been some form of store (possibly an icehouse or cold store) but it is also suggested it could have served as a toll or watchmen’s house – having a blocked arched window or low doorway that looked down the approach to the bridge. Its construction on the edge of the river had required considerable ground consolidation and it was built on a substantial brick platform. The removal of this building exposed a previously obscured section of the bridge. Here the fabric appeared to consist mostly of 19th-century brick, with some ashlar and modern cement render scored to mimic ashlar joints. This suggests the bridge saw a significant phase of rebuilding and remedial work in the 19th century, which predated its widening in 1897. Earlier bricks and several neat ashlar blocks observed just above the waterline may be part of the original early 17th-century fabric, or relate to the 18th-century remedial work.
The groundworks associated with the construction of the new building were minimal, with only 19th- and 20th-centutry makeup deposits disturbed by the excavated foundation trenches. A Victorian bottle and a small number of late post-medieval to modern pottery sherds were recovered from this material.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2025.