On September 30th, 1833, the Norwich and Lowestoft navigation was opened, when two vessels came from the latter place and arrived at the wharfs without once touching ground. This caused great rejoicing, and the advantages of the undertaking were soon apparent. But the company wanted money, and were obliged to borrow it from the Exchequer Loan Commissioners, into whose hands the port fell in 1842. Norwich traders might afterwards have recovered possession of the port for a small sum by a combined effort, but they lost the opportunity. The commissioners disposed of the port and navigation to a new company at Lowestoft, and that company, after expending large sums in repairs, sold the harbour and navigation to Mr. Peto for almost a nominal price. He, with other gentlemen, organised another company, raised a capital of £200,000 (afterwards doubled), and obtained an act of parliament for the formation of a new harbour, and a railway to Reedham in connection with the line to Norwich. The new harbour was made, and the railway was opened in 1847, from which year the carrying trade of the port gradually increased. Before 1850 the importation of coal and the harbour dues increased five-fold, and the importations of corn increased 10,000 quarters yearly. The number of vessels was doubled, and of course employment increased in proportion. The harbour and railway contributed a large traffic to the Eastern Counties lines. Norwich traders made great use of the port, and through it brought quantities of coal and heavy goods to the city. There is every mechanical facility afforded for the loading and unloading of vessels; and port dues are lower than at Yarmouth. In 1851, the number of vessels that entered the harbour was 1,636, or 131,767 tons, showing an increase of 23,000 tons. In the same year there was an increase of 6,997 tons in the coal imported. Of course, as the shipping trade of the port increased, the railway traffic increased also. One of the chief sources from which the additional revenue was derived was from the fish traffic; for in 1851 the packages were 78,000 in number, and produced a freight of £3,739. The traffic also in coal and goods has greatly improved.
Between 1840 and 1850 the corporation of Norwich, aided by the city merchants, made a most determined effort to improve the navigation to Yarmouth. A large subscription was raised for this purpose, and Mr. Cockburn Curtiss, the engineer, was engaged to make a survey of the river Yare, and to prepare plans. He did so, and his plans were approved by the citizens generally; but the corporation of Yarmouth gave notice of a strong opposition. Application was made to parliament for a bill giving the corporation here jurisdiction over the river down to the mouth of the Haven. The bill was opposed and lost, and the Norwich corporation were defeated after an expenditure of some thousands of pounds.