Todays inspection was on a Norman 26 Motor Cruiser at Anglia Yacht Brokers in St Olaves, South Norfolk on the River waveny.
Norman Cruisers
The business started in Shaw Lancs, then moved to Isherwood Street in Heywood Lancs then back to a new site in Shaw. Other factories were added (Royton and Heywood) and the business expanded into manufacturing windows and windscreens for other customers under the name of North West Windows Ltd at the Heywood factory. They also made boat canopies, upholstery, tents etc under the name of North West Marine Trimmers Ltd at our Padiham - Lancashire factory. At the same factory they also made boat trailers (Speedmaster Trailers). At the height of the business 1971 -1973 the business employed around 200 people (approx 120 in boatbuilding). They employed around 70 glassfibre laminators of which around 30 were female. The most boats they built in a week was 25. This included all models 18.5, 20, 23, 32, they also built the Dejon 14 for a while and renamed it the Norman 14.
New models were introduced 24, 27 and 22 wide beam but the moulding shop was destroyed in a fire in 1982. This destroyed most of the moulds and the business never recovered. Some moulds were re-built and when the business finally ceased, these were sold and marketed under other names. Also some designs were copied and made into hybrids. They estimated that around 7000 Normans were built. In the 1970s around 65% of boats were exported. Principle markets (in order of Volume) were Holland, Germany, Norway, France, Sweden. Boats in Holland were imported by Internaut of Rotterdam and were sold under the name of "Inter". Hence the 20 was the Inter620. Norman Cruisers were in the top 3 largest pleasureboat builders in the UK. Westerley Yachts being the biggest.
Norman Cruisers
The business started in Shaw Lancs, then moved to Isherwood Street in Heywood Lancs then back to a new site in Shaw. Other factories were added (Royton and Heywood) and the business expanded into manufacturing windows and windscreens for other customers under the name of North West Windows Ltd at the Heywood factory. They also made boat canopies, upholstery, tents etc under the name of North West Marine Trimmers Ltd at our Padiham - Lancashire factory. At the same factory they also made boat trailers (Speedmaster Trailers). At the height of the business 1971 -1973 the business employed around 200 people (approx 120 in boatbuilding). They employed around 70 glassfibre laminators of which around 30 were female. The most boats they built in a week was 25. This included all models 18.5, 20, 23, 32, they also built the Dejon 14 for a while and renamed it the Norman 14.
New models were introduced 24, 27 and 22 wide beam but the moulding shop was destroyed in a fire in 1982. This destroyed most of the moulds and the business never recovered. Some moulds were re-built and when the business finally ceased, these were sold and marketed under other names. Also some designs were copied and made into hybrids. They estimated that around 7000 Normans were built. In the 1970s around 65% of boats were exported. Principle markets (in order of Volume) were Holland, Germany, Norway, France, Sweden. Boats in Holland were imported by Internaut of Rotterdam and were sold under the name of "Inter". Hence the 20 was the Inter620. Norman Cruisers were in the top 3 largest pleasureboat builders in the UK. Westerley Yachts being the biggest.
