Shirley

Hi, actually it was Ivan who did the digital download and when talking to him on the phone he asked if I knew if my great grandfather was on the photo. Not sure I would be allowed to have it published anywhere as I bought it for personal use only. However my husband and I will be in the area next month for a couple of days so I am hoping to pop into the Lowestoft Record Office and will try to speak to Ivan. We will also go to the Commodore Inn as well to see if they have any historic photos.

Hi Ian, sadly I don't own a boat or have ever lived in Norfolk. I am actually in Hampshire. My interest is purely to find out as much as I can about my ancestors. I have managed to get a photo from the Lowestoft Record Office called "sheep roast on Oulton Broad 1891 sponsored by my great grandfather at the Commodore Inn but I have no idea if he is actually on the photo and no living relatives left who might know.

Hi Jenny - no I definitely did not win the lottery and my great grandfather wasn't the milkman. I know he was the innkeeper at the Commodore Inn according to the 1891 Census. His wife at the time was Harriett but she died and the old rascal seems to have married twice more. Sadly he had 14 children with his first wife but many of them died as babies. I guess in those days that was quite common. Some research through the Heritage Workshop has said the Commodore Inn and adjoining windmill were demolished in 1902 and they have found information to suggest my great grandfather became a beer retailer at 109 Bridge Street and its now a wine bar. All fascinating stuff!!

Hello all. Thank you for your replies. Just wished my parents and grandparents were still alive to ask about my great grandfather. I seem to be on a mission to find out as much as possible. Stebbings seems to be a very popular name in the Broads. Shirley

Hi just joined. I am researching my ancestry and in particular my great grandfather Quantrell Harry Stebbings who was the innkeeper of the Commodore Inn at Oulton Broad in the late 1800s. I wondered if there were any photos out there of the Inn.