The Tales from the River project was given a very valuable source of information: a degree thesis completed in 1994 that studied bathing in Thetford using interviews, written submissions from local residents, and detailed research. It can be downloaded from this page along with the later PhD thesis by the author, Dr Sarah Batstone (1971-2021).
Batstone, S.A.K. The Historical Development of Bathing at Thetford, Norfolk: from Small Rural to Expanded Town (unpublished degree dissertation, 1994)
In six PDFs (note file sizes):
Thetford thesis scanned 1 cover to p12 at 75 (8 MB)
https://osbrecks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thetford-thesis-scanned-1-cover-to-p12-at-75.pdf
Thetford thesis scanned 2 p13 to 30 at 75 (10 MB)
https://osbrecks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thetford-thesis-scanned-2-p13-to-30-at-75.pdf
Thetford thesis scanned 3 p31 to 53 at 75 (11 MB)
https://osbrecks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thetford-thesis-scanned-3-p31-to-53-at-75.pdf
Thetford thesis scanned 4 p54 to App13 at 75 (6 MB)
https://osbrecks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thetford-thesis-scanned-4-p54-to-App13-at-75.pdf
Thetford thesis scanned 5 App14 to 20 at 75 (4 MB)
https://osbrecks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thetford-thesis-scanned-5-App14-to-20-at-75.pdf
Thetford thesis scanned 6 App21 to 27 plus intro on donation at 75 (5.3 MB)
PhD thesis
Batstone, Sarah Anne Katherine Health and recreation: issues in the development of bathing and swimming, circa 1800-1970, with special reference to Birmingham and Thetford, Norfolk (University of Birmingham, 2000), https://tinyurl.com/Batstone2000PhD [Viewed 17 June 2025]
Download PDF (25Mb)
https://osbrecks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Thetf-Birming-Swim-PHD-369172-Batstone.pdf
The author and her friend Hester in about 1981, in the river at Thetford
Material from the thesis and other sources was used by young people in the Tales from the River project to create a wonderful film about swimming and other fun in the river in Thetford.