Privately owned, it was the site of direct action in the mid-20th century by local people hoping to establish the right of free public access to all Broadland waterways.
A bird exclosure was built here in the mid 1990s to protect an area of marginal vegetation, preventing water plants being damaged by coots.
Since time immemorial, all Broadland waters had been considered part of the King's River and thus freely accessible to all.
However, in the 19th century, several Norfolk landowners prevented access to broads in their ownership from the main river network under the inclosure acts.
Boatbuilder Herbert Woods led a public campaign against the landowners' action, culminating in the 'invasion of Black Horse Broad' in March 1949.