Our Story

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The history of the Bure Navigation Trust

 

The Aylsham Navigation Project 2012

 

Late in 2010 it was decided that such an important event as the 100th anniversary of the closure of the Navigation should be commemorated. To this end a meeting was held at Aylsham Town Hall on 28 September 2010 and the Aylsham Navigation Project 2012 was born.

 

This, and the following meetings, put together a number of proposals and a programme of events etc. to commemorate the great flood and consequential closure of the Navigation.

 

These included:

• The publication of a book on the history of the Navigation, (Sail and Storm – The Aylsham Navigation)

• An exhibition in Aylsham Town Hall showing pictures etc of the Navigation.

• A very successful event on Coltishall Lower Common on 26 August 2012 which included a visit from the Wherry Albion

• On the same day a token cargo was carried down the river from Aylsham to Coltishall, the first for 100 years.

• Here is a link to Margaret Bird's website showing some pictures of the 2012 celebration at Coltishall.

• The production of a large embroidered pictorial map of the Navigation.

• A video of a journey down the Navigation.

 

It was also decided that whilst the commemoration would mainly be a one day event the committee had always planned that it would leave a legacy.

 

To this end the Bure Navigation Conservation Trust Ltd was formed on 13 December 2011

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View the Constitution

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View the BNCT 2019 Membership Application Form

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The main aims of the Trust are:

 

• The conservation, enhancement and promotion of the environment, fauna and flora on this stretch of the River Bure. This includes:

• Recording what remains of the history.

• The identification and recording of the wildlife of the river.

• To establish a linear footpath, as close to the river/Navigation as possible, 80%,of which is already, a public right of way

• To monitor and report to relevant authorities any problems along the river and with existing footpaths.

• To organise way marking and information boards.

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Here is a link to Margaret Bird's website.

 

Some of the links overlap with BNCT interests, such as the Wherry Trust, NIAS, Broads Society, Norfolk Mills and the Aylsham Local History Society.

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