This first video of 2023 compares current views from across the city with equivalent views from the 1970s, taking us on an imaginary walk having arrived at the bus station.
I was born in Norwich in 1945, what memories, thank you. Our family lived in Sprowston , Wroxham Road, then moved to Great Yarmouth. I was a choirboy at Saint PeterMancroft, by the market. Ah yes ….. memories 😊😊😊 . Now looking at your production from Vancouver.
Thank you for yet another great comparison of old and new Norwich, John. It must take a lot of research and effort to create these wonderful videos of yours and I am truly grateful. I was in my late teens in the seventies, so I have memories of the way things were back then and your images are an excellent reminder.
I really enjoyed seeing the comparison between the 70s and the current day. Personally, I think most of these areas have been improved aesthetically since the 1970s. I don't always think that when I see some of your other videos of older times. Thank you for another fascinating video.
I left Norwich in 1977 but my sister returned (Tasburgh). Most of Norwich is still pretty well as I remember it as a 7yr old but I do get confused around the new shopping centres. Things I miss are the smell of the wicker furnature shop (I think that was opposite what is now John Lewis, used to be Bonns(?), a shop that used to sell hot shell on prawns in newspaper (somehwere near Carror Rd I think) and of course, my birth place (the old N&N - the ugly concrete tower block bit that housed the maternity unit) - oh, and weirdly Bejam (just for the memories of a Saturday shop at the market, Sainsburys and Bejam - and 1/mnth a trip to the cattle market). Tasburgh is pretty well exactly as it was when I lived there (1970 - 1977) but that's no great suprise.
Thanks again John for sharing all your knowledge and hours of research with us all - I appreciate how long it takes to create a video such as this - your hard work and expertise is very much appreciated!
My memories iof the bus station go back to wartime. I loved buses as a small kid, but was frightened out of my life when the Cromer bus pulled in. It was powered by a ‘gas producer unit’, trailed on the rear. The noise was like a bomb exploding.
Great stuff John. I remember 70s Norwich well. As another poster on here said, some areas have improved dramatically since then. If I had a time machine and could go forward another 50 years I wonder what we would find? Thanks for your continuous supply of Norwich history.
Thanks for the video. It is surprising how much has changed in 50 years. I was based at the Municipal Mutual Office until closure in the 1990’s. Strange that the name is still on the building.
People are noticing the improvements, which is good to see. It's easy to think things used to be better. And Alfred, you won a small prize with your score of 8 in the Look Up video. If you'd like to let me know how I can get it to you I will happily do so.
Happy New Year John, some nice reminders of our city, brings back some good memories. The Dentists in Aylsham road had a couple of big scale aerial shot of Norwich from the 60,s/70,s on his waiting room wall for decades until recently. looks like a lot of the people watching your videos are enjoying the 70;s reminders. Thanks
Can remember catching the old number 11 bus to Poringland in the 70s strange what nonsense the memory stores . And I can remember when Norwich played after the match in the same era yellow and green everywhere. Nearly 50 years ago happier days.
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Norwich bus station it's all coming back to my memory now that little wooden kiosk that one person could fit in it was like a tardis it had every packet of sweets and a tobacco and cigarettes. This has bought happy and sad memories back .
WOW! I used to frequent the Lads Club in the early 80’s for roller skating on a Wednesday night and roller hockey practice on a Monday. Moved away in 1986 and now live in the USA, didn’t know the Lads Club was no more 😢
I'm not sure but I think it might exist in some form somewhere else. The main hall that you used, and that I used for football is still there, and part of the King Centre - it's in my video on Music Venues.
That the devastation and destruction of swathes of the city, started mainly in the Sixties, carried on into the Seventies (after I moved away) is just mind-boggling. I have never been able to understand how or why the City Council completely failed to understand the importance of what made Norwich special, or protect it, and set out in every decade to destroy it, or allow its destruction, only to replace it with ersatz buildings and architecture, which already looks fit for the wrecking ball. I guess it's the mentality of people who used to be called "Go-aheads", when I was a boy.
On the contrary, the real estate of the Fine City continues to be usefully and tastefully re-purposed as the needs of its populace change and develop. You can't live in a museum.
@@johnleney9541 Our tastes may well differ. I don't subscribe to the idea that because something is old and also happens to be either picturesque, useful or indeed beautiful, or in need of refurbishment or restoration, then it needs must be torn down and replaced by the sort of computer-drawn developers' "designs" nowadays favoured by some LAs and most "get rich quick" developers. When it comes to new and truly innovative building, I'm all in favour of things like the Goldsmith Street housing, which didn't involve the demolition of, for example, Georgian terraces, and which is in harmony with the street scene and the general and unique "feel" of a city like Norwich. Unfortunately, that example is the exception, rather than the rule today.
3:05 Back in the mid to late 70's when I was about 9 or 10, we'd go down that embankment and fish for eels directly under the bridge. We'd then take them to a fishmongers on St Augustines St, Chettleburghs I think was the name, but don't quote me on that, and sell them for a bit of pocket money.
i vaguely remember grapes hill as a cobbled road with derelict houses in 1966 when i moved to norwich. tram lines inthe city and city station still there. long long time ago.
A wonderful history of the yards past and present. The proposed Angel Yard development also covers the land currently occupied by Mitchell's fencing which we believe to be the original location of the Angel public house and yard, hence the use of the name. Do you have any more information about this please?
Don't know where you get the time to do all these excellent historical videos John - ! I was in my late teens in the early '70s before work took me to various places around the country. I certainly mind of the early scenes and I agree that the recent scenes are mostly an improvement. 😁
Thanks Simon, that's a consistent view, which is rather good I feel. In terms of time, it's my passion, my hobby, and I also do a very different radio show too each week. But I'm becoming a grandad in May, so that will undoubtedly curtail something a bit!
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Congratulations John - ! I became a grandad about 20 years ago, but as all three live in Clacton, I can still enjoy my leisure time- ! 🤣
I believe that Norwich would have been much more "country"-oriented in its shops back then. I recall from the 1960s a butcher-cum-poulterer's shop in Tombland (facing one of the Gates into the Close?) with pheasants and game hanging outside in profusion. All gone now, I suppose. (Elf & Safety + EEC/EU...). The close-up of the old Anglia Television building reminds me of a visit back to the city shortly after I'd left the city for university in 1972. A mate and I (name forgotten or mercifully held back) ended a night's drinking in the city by very daringly visiting a pub or bar - I can't remember which - close by that building (maybe part of the same) reputed as a gay haunt. All very tame but shockingly adventurous for working-class virgins at that time. Just a load of quiet drinking going on. No shocking scenes disappointingly. But there was a sort of police raid or visit, backing up the rumours, and a resulting mass scamper out by the clientele, us included! (Now just where am I thinking of?) Compared to my later Brighton and London life, exceedingly tame and unshocking - but very Sin City indeed for Norwich and Norfolk then, I can assure you. Up there with the Norwich Bohemia experience that was Black Anna's [Annie?]. Fond memories of a vanished time...
I believe the bar you are referring to was called Studio Four and it was at the back of Anglia TV, maybe in Crown Street. I appreciate all your very interesting comments, thank you.
I was at college in Norwich between 1969 and 1972 and it sort of just seems like yesterday - lived in Mill Hill Road . The local pronunciation [phew that's a big word] of Norwich was something like " Narch" with a slow emphasis [another big word ] on the "a" and a rolling of the "r" .
That would be fantastic if you could do that. The videos I am currently working on are of Castle Meadow and St George's Street. Please message me direct if that would be a possibility.
Wow! Very good. Like others I remember The Lads Club in the 60's but dont remember who ran it. Was it religious, masonic, working mens, friendly society or what and yes I wonder if it still continues on another site
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Thanks John. Well obviously you could look at how the UEA campus has changed since the 90s. But beyond that there's the 'golden triangle' area where lots of students live with its pubs etc. And I'd love to see how the city centre has changed since the 90s. From a student perspective we used to enjoy nightlife like Ritzy, Waterfront, Liquid and other pubs/clubs. I'm sure such a look back would be v popular! Maybe UEA would help you with it.
@@RichardNosworthy thanks, that's helpful. I'll give it some thought and see what I can come up with. It may take a while as I have others on the go, but thanks for the idea - it's a little different to normal. Meanwhile there is a little about the UEA campus history in this one ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7rg7Ml7xFrQ.html
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich oh that would be brilliant thanks I did find list of folk whom lived there thank you love the history ones of Norwich It’s really sad to see how a lot of places are no longer there and much appreciated if you answering ann
@@user-ql7ip3yn8b thanks Ann. I've found a little bit. Herring Row was on the north side of West Pottergate after no. 29. This link will show the addresses on W Pottergate in 1900, but sadly not specifically Herring Row. www.thornburypump.co.uk/Ancestry/Resources/Kelly_Nfk_1900/pages.php?thepage=1321 . This map shows the layout of the area. Herring Row is probably the un-named street running between W Pottergate and William Street. maps.nls.uk/view/101582867 This photo shows the area, but sadly after demolition. norfolk.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/112899268/2208309,4 This pic shows the pub, West Pottergate Stores, which was close to being opposite Herring Row. norfolk.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/FULL/WPAC/BIBENQ/112899268/2218036,7?FMT=IMG I hope the links work, and that they help to give a feel of the area.
Such a shame as parts of Norwich City are gone forever They have done the same thing to all the cities and towns all over the UK 🇬🇧 They rip pockets out but don't replace the communities that were originally there for decades I likened it to illegal loggers destroying small pockets of forests and eventually there will be no animals because they won't have a home called a forest Humans are much the same We live in our cities and towns but the people in power rip the heart out of our buildings and replace them with office space Or if they do put houses there very few people can actually afford the mortgage And why Because the circle of power goes wider or globally Same as all the factory's in and around Norwich I dread to think how many people lost their jobs over a 15 year period, While all the boardroom and investors just carried on but ordered from China instead So that's why loads of major factory's and other businesses closed there down after many many many years in Norwich Even Norwich Union changed it's name lol And our local councils and MP,S all knew and building firms like Carters Suddenly got multiple multi million pound jobs Norwich was a beautiful city full of history and buildings to match But sadly alot of those were bulldozed to make way for a new modern look Norwich I was born in the sixties on a rough tough council estate in Norwich I learned amateur boxing from a very very early I remember new bowthorpe was beautiful golden 🌽 fields and they had just started putting heavy machinery on their the year I went to HIGH SCHOOL I love Norwich City and its one of the most best places in the world and I've been around the world couple of times I remember the Lads club with fond memories on Kings Street It was funny because I was very good at playing the trumpet age 7 So my parents thought that it would be a great idea and remember I come from a rough tough council council estate My parents thought they would put me in the salvation army brass band and they used to March around the Norwich City football team pitch just before the Norwich City FC. kickoff Anyway it was embarrassing even at 7 and half years old And even worse the salvation army brass band practice room Was down the stairs literally through the lads boxing club and into a room for the brass band to play After a while I stopped practice salvation army brass band And then took up amateur boxing which I loved
