Important notice to all mooring licence holders:

Catfield United Charities have taken over management of Catfield Common Staithe from 1st April 2024.
Please contact us to ensure your contact details are correct so all mooring agreements can be renewed.
Email: boatyard@catfieldunitedcharities.uk
Phone: 01692 660250

Catfield Staithe, situated on Catfield Common at the end of Catfield Dyke leading west from Hickling Broad. In 1802 the fen ground was allocated to the Trustees of the Poor. The tithe award map of 1842 designates the area as a Poor’s Allotment, owned by the “Poor of Catfield.” Since 1859, the staithe has been leased, following a petition from the Poor to the Riches family, who maintained occupancy until the 1960s.

In 1916, a scheme, endorsed by the Charity Commissioners, aimed to consolidate various poor’s charities in the parish. Presently, a portion of the Common Staithe, specifically the western arm, is leased to a private boatyard. The remaining expanse is under the stewardship of the Trustees, entrusted with its management on behalf of parishioners and the public.

Catfield Staithe serves a dual purpose, functioning as both a parish staithe with free Broads Authority 24-hour moorings and a boatyard. Ownership lies with Catfield United Charities, officially registered with the Land Registry in 2011.