We are telling the stories of river recreation across the Brecks and fen edge, sharing memories and images collected by the project in talks, maps, films, guided walks, and more.
Talks
In an online talk in November 2024 took a journey along the three main Brecks rivers sharing images and stories of recreation and industry along the way. You can watch the presentation on the BFER YouTube channel (52 minutes), or download the slides (PDF) and the talk notes, including links (PDF, 14 pages). During the Tales from the River project I also did about a dozen in-person talks, with more to come in 2025 (info on website).
Online talk: Tales from the River: memories of recreation in Brecks rivers and fen edge
Maps
We’ve mapped the spots where people swam or did other recreation in the past. Volunteers in the Tales from the River project gathered stories and memories and information about where people went to swim, to go boating and fishing, and to enjoy the rivers and other waters. These came from oral history interviews, written stories, research and conversations.
(We are still adding locations, and welcome stories and info.)
We mapped them all onto a Google map, where clicking the icons gives more info on each place, and you can download the table (PDF) used to create the map.
Historic swim and recreation spots map
At many of the events throughout the Tales from the River project we had a map of the project area and the Brecks, and people put different coloured stickers on to show approximately where they did a variety of activities. You can see the maps and read a bit more about it by downloading this Note (PDF 5 pages).
Map stickers for Brecks recreation
Film and Exhibition
The Ancient House Museum History Clubs used stories from oral history interviews and other sources (including the Thetford study of bathing) and images and a variety of techniques to make a film, ‘A Fun History of Thetford’s Rivers 1880s-2000’ – watch on the BFER YouTube channel; and an exhibition that toured the Brecks, ‘Tales from the Riverbank’ – see it online.
Making the film, Ancient House Museum August 2022; watching the film, Thetford Library November 2022
The exhibition at Watton Sports Centre, August 2024
Walks
Material from the Tales from the River project was also used to lead guided river history walks in several places in the Brecks. Read more about these, download the handouts, and see the routes on a Google map with links to more info.