Historic boat spotted moored up outside Ribs of Beef Norwich

The wherry Ardea, the last of its kind ever built and only one of three surviving vessels - along with pleasure wherries Solace and Hathor - was seen next to the Ribs of Beef in Wensum Street, while on a charter from its home in Wroxham.

Commuters on their way to work stopped in their tracks to snap the Ardea's unique teak hull and enormous 65ft hull.

The Ardea was built in 1927 at Oulton Broad (Image: Newsquest)

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The Ardea was built at Oulton Broad, officially launching on September 13, 1927 and operated around the Broads for around 30 years.

It was comissioned by local benefactor Howard Hollingsworth, co-founder of Bourne and Hollingsworth store, in London.

The vessel was spotted outside The Ribs of Beef pub (Image: Newsquest)

In December 1958 it was purchased for £2,750 by Harold and Joy Dunkerley, in their search for a floating home they could live in, at the heart of Paris along the River Seine.

After the Dunkerleys moved away, the Ardea had been bought by a Parisian Madame in the mid 60s, who allowed "her" girls to spend their spare time on board and rest.

The mast pulley block on the Ardea (Image: Newsquest)

It was seized by the French government for non-payment of taxes and abandoned for a while, until she returned to the Broads by lorry in 2005.

Within 11 months of leaving Paris the rejuvenated Ardea was ready to set sail again for the first time in 50 years.

Ardea is Latin for Heron (Image: Newsquest)

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Her name comes from the Latin name for the heron family.

Currently the Ardea is owned by Andrew Scull, chairman of the Wherry Yacht Charitible Trust, who lets trust members operate her for events and charters.

The vessel will sleep six via with three cabins, a galley and a large saloon area, housing a table and 12 chairs.

The 65ft pleasure wherry can sleep six people (Image: Newsquest)

Inside the Ardea is a large saloon area which seats 12 (Image: Newsquest)

The front cabin of the Ardea (Image: Wherry Yacht Charter)