The Discovery and Rebuilding of the Working Wherry Maud

Beccles Photo Club members enjoyed an excellent and informative evening when Linda Pargeter told the story of the discovery and rebuilding of the former trading wherry Maud.

Originally built by the famous wherry builders Halls of Reedham in 1899 Maud could carry forty tons of cargo from Great Yarmouth and other places to various destinations in Broadland. She was designed for the specific purpose of carrying timber, but as time passed, she carried other goods including sugar beet to the factory at Cantley.

By the early 1960’s Maud, who, was at the time, owned by May Gurney was offered for sale for £50. Failing to find a buyer she was left to sink in Ranworth Inner Broad. She remained there sunk to deck level until it was decided to build the Conservation Centre.

In 1979 Linda and her late husband Vincent surveyed the wreck and conceived a plan to rescue and restore Maud.  Work started in June 1981 and was finally completed in 1999. Over the years of restoration much of the timber had to be replaced. It was not easy to find suitable oak two inches thick oak to replace the planks, but the volunteers were helped by the owner of some local woodland.

As well as wood for framing and planks they also needed wherry equipment and after an appeal to friends and fellow enthusiasts, such things as pulleys’ that only needed refurbishing were obtained. Vincent Pargeter was a traditional millwright, restoring wind and water mills for his day job and was able to use his wood and metal working skills to repair such items or make them.

In May 2015 Maud Wherry Trust became a registered charity. The trust supports the Heritage Open each year and in 2018 and 2019 Maud was on show at Pull’s Ferry Norwich.

After a talk aided by series of projected images on the working life, discovery of the wreck and its restoration of Maud Linda showed a short film of the detailed work that was necessary to restore this ancient vessel using the same techniques as when she was built in 1899.

With an active membership and a group of skilled and capable friends the future of this historic vessel is secure. For a modest annual sum, the public can support the work of the dedicated enthusiasts and there is also the opportunity to sail on Maud as she makes her way around the Broadland rivers as she did over one hundred years ago.

Full details of Maud at www.wherrymaudtrust.org

Maud