Ben hope blackcurrant river scene – people enjoying the sunshine by the water on June 2, 1968. Some people call it the ‘Capital of the Broads’. But there is much more to Wroxham than its proximity to this stunning area of natural beauty.
An aerial view of Wroxham in July 1962. And today we are stepping back in time to the 1960s to see what life looked like in the village at the time. Anyone who has driven to or through Wroxham in the height of summer knows what the traffic can be like – but compare that to these street scenes from sixty years ago. The busy junction where Station Road, Church Road and Norwich Road intersect in the centre of Wroxham on July 4, 1966. Do you recognise this Wroxham street scene? Then there’s the Church of St Mary, hidden away in its secluded and peaceful hilltop spot. The Church of St Mary at Wroxham in 1961.
But it’s the people that make a place, and perhaps you recognise someone you know in these pictures. Sailmakers at Jeckells, Wroxham on March 5, 1964. Star Glory” being prepared at Jack Powles boatyard, Wroxham. Behind the line of strigging machines is a conveyor taking the currants to the vats. Blackcurrant pulp is weighed from the vats into the barrels for dispatch.
And of course, no tale about Wroxham would be complete without a nod to the regattas, boat yards and riverside scenes from yesteryear. Sailing craft on the river at Wroxham and in the background is Jack Powles, Home of the “Star” Hire Fleet. Youngsters rowing in Wroxham Regatta week on July 27, 1969. Seacrete, the concrete derivative hull material devised by Windboats Ltd.
Wroxham, appears for the first time in a sea-going boat. Covered craft at Wroxham in 1961. The pleasure wherry Sundog for sale at Wroxham. Will there be a bank holiday to mourn the Queen’s death? Please enjoy these old photos of Wroxham in the 1960s – we hope they bring back fond memories of this wonderful village on the Norfolk Broads. For more old photos and articles about Norfolk history and heritage, subscribe to our fortnightly Through the Decades email newsletter. Learn how to grow delicious and nutritious blackcurrants, in our Grow Guide.
Blackcurrants are delicious, easy to grow, and very good for you. The small dark purple berries are packed with vitamin C and other medicinal benefits. Although they have a sharp flavour, juicy blackcurrants can be eaten fresh or added to pies, jams and cordials. Feed with a high potash fertiliser weekly during the growing season and mulch the soil around the plant with well-rotted manure, leaf mould or compost. You may consider netting the fruit against birds.
Blackcurrants grow best in a sunny, sheltered spot where fruits can ripen into fat, juicy berries. Plant bare-root blackcurrant bushes in autumn and pot grown plants at any time of the year. If growing in a container choose a large tub or barrel. Blackcurrants thrive in deep soil, so dig a generous planting hole and add plenty of well-rotted compost or manure and fertiliser to the soil. After planting, prune the bush right back. In spring, feed with pelleted chicken manure or other high potash fertiliser, and add a thick mulch.
Keep weed-free during the growing season and when the fruits start to mature, net your plants to protect from the birds. Prune blackcurrants in autumn and winter. New varieties of Blackcurrant bushes have good resistance to common problems such as mildew and frost damage. However, Blackcurrant gall midge can cause leaves to dry and drop off. An insecticidal soap spray can help to control this. Birds love the berries as much as we do, so net your fruit bushes to protect them.
Blackcurrants are ready to pick when they are dark and shiny, but still firm. Pick currants on a dry day, as wet currants will quickly go mouldy. Harvest whole trusses, rather than individual berries. They can be eaten fresh and will keep for several days after picking. Our friends at olive have curated a delicious collection of blackcurrant recipes, including their inventive blackcurrant ripple ice cream.
Plants have a slightly open, spreading habit for easy picking. This variety has excellent mildew resistance and good tolerance to frost. 26 every 6 issues and get a hardback copy of Adam Frost’s new book. This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. For blackcurrant liqueur, see Crème de cassis.
Grossulariaceae grown for its edible berries. It is winter hardy, but cold weather at flowering time during the spring may reduce the size of the crop. Bunches of small, glossy black fruit develop along the stems in the summer and can be harvested by hand or by machine. The raw fruit is particularly rich in vitamin C and polyphenols. Blackcurrants can be eaten raw but are usually cooked in sweet or savoury dishes. Ribes nigrum is a medium-sized shrub, growing to 1.