Known as the "Bond Street of Norwich", because of the major stores which were once based here, London Street was the first existing UK street to be pedestrianised, and also played a significant role in newspaper history.
A fascinating video but watching it makes my heart ache. How can it be that, with all the progress we've made in the past 150 years, we can't erect buildings that match those from the Victorian era? It's so sad to see the ugly monstrosities that have replaced such lovely buildings from the past. The change you show in London Street from 2:34 is particularly disheartening to see. That being said, you've done a great job illustrating the changes.
Thanks Ian, I'm inclined to agree on balance, especially when I see the shot from the late eighteenth century of where Costa is now. Not great for a prominent corner location.
Another great video John, thank you so much. I remember the pedestrianisation in 1967. Before that I remember my Dad driving down London Street with me as a passenger in his Austin Cambridge car. How he complained about the pedestrianisation! The Norwich one-way system was gradually introduced after that and he called it "the track" and avoided it at all costs!
Thanks so much Peter for adding those details. My dad told me he drove in London Street on his driving test. I think there was a man with a red flag in front of him!
Dear John, I think I have watched most of your videos, and can't thank you enough for your wonderful work and narration. It makes me angry with myself that I left Norwich in 1970 to work and travel and only returned for a holiday in 1994. I miss Norwich so much. Sob, sob. My best wishes to you.
Thank you so much, that is such a kind comment. It's a project that I enjoy doing, and if it makes others happy then I am delighted. Comments like yours make it all worthwhile, so thank you.
Thank you John. I found this interesting, particularly as I was employed by NatWest in the early 1970’s at the magnificent building located at 45 London Street.
That brings back a lot of memories John particularly as my dissertation at uni was about the pedestrianisation of London Street. People forget how many firsts came from Norwich and you mention two of them in this excellent video.
Hi John. As ever an enjoyable video. I remember being taken into Garlands by my mother when she was shopping. I believe it also incorporated Buntings at that time. I remember the tea room at the top, with a little palm court Orchestra, or perhaps just a trio, playing in the corner; a scene from a bygone era. I think most people go along just looking at street level and the shops; but there is so much more of interest higher up.
Always loved London Street. Used to get my haircut in MacGuires. Remember that Boots you could enter on London Street, go upstairs and exit onto Castle Meadow.
Excellent, John. Thank you. I remember when London street was pedestrianised. A marked improvement. Although I remember being dragged around Garlands by my mother, I don't remember the fire.
Thanks John for another great Video, there was so much in there I watched it twice, this area changes so much, I remember the Highlander well from my younger years, My wife and I had our engagement photos done in Coes, I cannot think of another area of shops that changes so much over the years. Looking forward to the Castle Meadow video, we recently did the hidden street tour.
This was fascinating, with some wonderful old photographs. I watched it twice! I found an invoice from Goodways Furniture dated 8th July 1934 when researching my family history. My grandfather purchased most of his furniture from the shop for his new home - he lived 50 miles away, in Heacham. It was interesting that London Street was like Fleet Street in London with its newspaper history. Btw, it seems very short-sighted to change the name from Windsor Bishop. Fantastic video!
Thanks very much for your comment. That's great that you have an invoice from Goodways in 1934. Yes, although it was known as Norwich's Bond Street, it was definitely like Fleet Street - even to the extent that Fleet Street was named after a river and London Street was once named after the River Cockey! I agree with you about Winsor Bishop
Hi John, as a 50 something Norwich boy I'm loving your content. Could you look into the Squats on Argyll St in the 70s and 80s and the filming of 'Memoir Of A Surivor' starring Julie Christie? Just a thought, all the best 👍
Thank you so much, I'm gald you're enjoying the videos. I've done one on Argyle Street - here it is.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ElmxbPrb41A.html
I was among the crowd watching Garlands burn down. I was awstruck by the puny amounts of water being sprayed onto the building by the fire brigade, which was useless against the raging inferno. I was also probably amongst the first to fined £10 for riding my bike along the newly pedestrianised London St.
Thanks very much for that description. Interesting to hear of your fine for cycling on London Street - nowadays pedestrians have to dodge cyclists and scooterists. Not sure when (or if) the law changed.
Really interesting John, for some reason I haven't been getting any notifications, I saw your shoutout on Brit girls go Stateside!! Have a good one mate!!😊Robbie
I banked at that branch of Barclay's Bank in the Sixties. I stayed with it when I moved to London to work, until they bounced my rent cheque. I immediately worked the balance at Barclay's down to zero, and opened an account at another bank in the old Covent Garden. I wasn't very happy when my employer, by mistake, paid my month's salary (£42 per month) into Barclay's instead of my new account, and Barclay's deducted closing fees. I used to buy tobacco from Miller's, along with Lambert's on the Walk. I seem to recall seeing somewhere that Miller's Highlander went to the USA, but perhaps someone knows for sure.
When London Street was pedestrianised in '67, although not so many cars were about, I wonder if it caused a similar level of fuss as the current traffic restrictions as happening in Exchange Street - ?
John, I'm amazed there's no mention of Ridley & Livock, 'Ladie's & Gentleman's Outfitters' almost opposite Boot's. A very classy establishment which also included a gentlemen's barber shop in a large lower ground floor room finely kitted out with what looked like a thirtie's style decor. As a wee lad, my dad would take me there to get my hair cut, usually by Mr. Cannel. He would have to put a board onto the arms of the chair, specially made for small customers, as said massive chair didn't go high enough - ! And I always got a good spray of bay rum lotion on my hair afterwards, all part of the service - ! 😁 I think the coats of arms on the first floor wall between the windows may still be there.
I never came across it Simon, sorry! But I believe I have heard of it from the cavities of my memory. Thanks for adding the details, which may well ring a few bells with others.
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich R & L was also an 'approved stockist' for our school uniforms. I would get my blazers from there as the quality was worth the bit extra they cost. Caps, Rumsey Wells of course - ! 😀
Great channel. Thanks for posting these visa. Is there any truth in the rumours, that there are tunnels from the guild hall to the cathedral. I worked on exchange Street. And down in the basement there were strange arches that were partly bricked. But you could see that they went across the road towards jarrolds. I never had the time to climb through and look at how long and deep they were. But those arches have always bugged me. It always felt and looked like they were the top of some tall arches that had been buried. I wish I could explain that better. All the best
Thanks Brett. I have heard rumours like that - but going from the guildhall to the castle. These arches could have been medieval undercrofts. This may be of interest. www.wingingtheworld.com/underground-norwich/
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich hi thanks for the reply and the link. I will have a look this evening. They where definitely stone and medieval. And visa should have read vids. Have a good day.
Now that would be an interesting one. I'd be up for doing that, but it'll take a lot of research - and I guess I couldn't use original shots as comparisons. Hmmm....I'll have to think about it, but great idea!
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich i would imagine the original shots are probably copyrighted which is a shame. I remember meeting sir john Mills while he was shooting the umbrella man in upper st Giles. ( Queens Head pub) He happen to mention he actually went to school 50 yards down the road. There is now a blue plaque denoting this. Also remember watching the kings head in Castle Street going up in flames. A technician explained how it was done using lightning. Ive been watching re-runs on sky arts. There are so many locations shot in Norwich, but like you say if would be difficult comparing the Now and then photographs.
Is it me or am I wrong? Didn't know shoes to Look a Lot cleaner and tidier and a lot less cluttered back then? Don't you think that Norwich she started to show the classic signs of neglect and being left to run down? All the times these contractors have dug it up and put it back in a lot shoddier state than it was before in my opinion is made the street look complete mass. The home shop fronts of the buildings are looking a lot less clean and tidy and more tatty than they were before. Is it me or has Norwich become much more litter strewn and basically a right mess? All those early photographs showing Norwich and a lot more splendid light than it is today. Norwich was and has still the capability of becoming a beautiful clean and tidy City again. Don't you think a lot of the streets of being allowed to becoming a state of disrepair compared to the Pride Norwich City Council took in the City all those years ago. Increasingly boarded up shops and all the tattoo looking falling apart shop frontages is a very big disappointment as I walk around the city in general. I moved to Norwich in 2008 which is nearly 15 years ago and I've seen it go rapidly downhill since then. 15 years ago Norwich used to be great for shopping add 20-years ago used to be much better still. Again I still think Norwich has it in it to become a beautiful well kept City again if Norwich city council workers work so lazy and started to take pride in their work and their surroundings again. Norwich used to be such a well kept clean and tidy beautiful city. Around St Peter mancroft Church. You have all that graffiti and mindless vandalism going on in the city centre. People are really not taking care of our and their City. You have Anglia Square that's looking really run down and needs to be knocked down. You have that work that still going on in the former Topshop door and around that area it looks alright mess. Opposite the Guildhall yard the former Tesco store all boarded up. The former Debenhams store all boarded up former British Home Stores store all boarded up and looking really tatty and untidy. Am I being unduly brutal and unkind here or am I being spot on? The streets of not being swept up very well and bins are overflowing rubbish because council workers not allowed to empty and before 16:00 in the afternoon. If a little bit more Karen attention was spent on Norwich? Norwich would be lovely beautiful attractive city to come and visit and live in again. I am really sorry if what I'm saying offend some people here. But sadly really has to be said. I get no satisfaction or joy is saying what I've said. Please Norwich City Council and the people Norwich start taking pride in your city. We must stop Norwich entering into terminal Decline and decay. Pure.
Thank you very much Pure, for such a detailed comment. I feel that there is an element of looking run-down, when shops close, but that was always the case - see Smith Boughen at 1.10 in the video. Other cities and towns have also struggled as a result of the economic downturn and pandemic. I agree Norwich can still be a beautiful city - but there always seems to be areas which look neglected, with work waiting to be done. Tescos near the Guildhall will become a hotel, and I'm sure in time that will look great. I know that the former TopShop will become a Morrisons, which will at least tidy it up. Residents need also to take care - graffiti is my particular dislike, it looks so scruffy. I don't think you can blame the city council workers, they can only do what they are instructed to do, and what money allows. I am sure the city will evolve, areas will be improved, but other ares will fall into decline. On balance, I wouldn't choose to live anywhere else! Thanks again for your comment - much appreciated.
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich John. Thank you very much for your response. It is not the money that prevents these dustman picking up rubbish at the bins before 16:00 in the afternoon. It is the rules that the council has put down anti-seize restrictions put up on the workers that work for the council long refuse collection in the city centre. I know this because I know somebody that works on the dust carts. Since I moved to Norwich in 2008. I have seen the gradual Decline and the scruffiness of Norwich increase. I've seen the streets become more more litter strewn and the pavements themselves becoming a lot more dirty and less often cleaned. I have noticed more more and more buildings becoming neglected and basically tatty looking. We don't look after what was once a beautiful city. We will lose it. I've got several books here at home with George plunkett photographs of old Norwich. I've also got the Frith book of old Norwich. Most of the old photographs in these books depict Norwich of a well cared for and well presented City. The streets really clean and tidy back in the 50s 60s and most of the 70s. Norwich City Council add Norwich people seem to care more about what they're sitting looked like back then. Standard seemed to be a lot higher back then that is a shame that we haven't got those same exacting standards today. The parts of Road used to be really spotlessly clean no litter anywhere. Everywhere used to look so tidy and cared for. The building some cells looked better presented to unlock high standard the we are presenting them today. Today would you walk along Aylsham Road and most of the roads leading into the city centre. You see leaves that have not been swept up or cleared away. You will see litter all over the place. When it rains the streets to so dirty your shoes get dirty. All this is a sign Jon that Norwich City Council really couldn't care less about the state of their City. I really do hate saying all this job but it is true I get no satisfaction or joy out of saying what I'm saying trust me. You walk through from Drayton Road through Anderson's Meadow to Higham Street and all the pavements have not been swept or cleaned at all. Why is this? Where are the parks and gardens workers? You walk through there were clean shoes along the past and the time you get to Heigham Street your shoes are filthy dirty. Years ago this was not the case John. Everywhere was clean and tidy and properly looked after. I feel really sorry to say this but it's true. The people of Norwich need to start taking pride in their City tackle the lazy attitude of Norwich City Council and get this city back to how you used to be. In recent years you've seen beggars on the streets outside shops with loads of rubbish and stuff outside empty shop doorways. You don't very often see cleaners in Norwich city centre cleaning up the streets properly. Where has years ago used to be different. If you look at George plunkett photographs of Norwich. You will see immaculately clean tidy and well looked after City. However I do think these takeaway restaurants and joined have a lot to answer for. I think they should be forced to highest are to clear the area up or even better make the People's or dropping it's rubbish everywhere clear it up themselves. As for Anglia Square. Don't get me started on that. Most of the shops in there and have got structural problems. A lot of the shops in Anglia Square of very proud to flood damage during wet weather and in general poorly maintained and poorly cared for. The whole place needs to be locked down and that new scheme needs to be built as soon as possible. Let's be way too much faffing about getting that redeveloped. In the late 1950s Magdalen Street got a gorgeous makeover by the Civic Trust. Just looked at how rundown Magdalen Street now today is. This rather proves my point. Norwich is not just the only city that's got this problem mind you. Most councils in Britain nowadays do not care about their towns and cities enough. So it's not totally exclusive to Norwich. We need to start taking care of our country and our towns and cities much more here in the UK. You've got a yob culture with the young hanging around the city centre. Throwing things everywhere and making the place look on tidy as well. London street by what I can see used to be a stunning looking Street. Even as late as the early 1980s it seems to be better looked after them today. How much clean and tidy the shops looked as well and the shop fronts used to be gleaming and pristine. The same can't be said about the I don't care about this building of today's landlords and business owners. Just look at how run down the once beautiful royal Arcade now is. It's architects skipper would be turning in his rave if he found out what disgusting state it has become. Half empty and looking very uncared for. I think our politicians and are councillors I've got a lot to answer for and to. I have totally ruined a lot of our towns and cities in Britain. If you walk down King Street and pass that new housing development near mountergate. You still see or wooden boards around the place where they haven't finished the development and it looks really uncared for and scruffy down there near Riverside. And that big bridge that's white near the football ground that goes from King Street to Riverside just near the leisure centre is all filthy dirty and needs a lick of paint as well. John take a walk around the place and look and see what I'm going on about. But I do believe they are redeveloping Norwich Castle mind you to make that as it used to be. It seems to be a right mess they're outside Norwich Castle and The Castle quarter shopping centre at the moment. John I feel really sad and gutted having to save this and I really do mean it. I would really like to meet you somewhere in Norwich for a chat one day John. Is there any way that I can message you privately to arrange this? Regards pure.
@@puresalvation2009 thank you so much, you make many valid points. I think there are two major aspects that make the city less pleasant. 1. Those areas in transition, which are boarded up and take forever to put right. 2. The hideous graffiti. By the way, you'll be pleased to know (and maybe surprised!) that the bridge has recently been cleaned. You can send me a personal message via my Lost Norwich Facebook page. Thanks again for your responses.
@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich John. Thank you very much for your kind reply and unfortunately I do not do Facebook. Is there chance to provide in an email address for people to get in contact with you on your about page here on RU-vid? As I would like to meet up one day for a chat. I look forward to your reply. Pure.
Brilliant as always. I was hoping that with your knowledge of the history of Norwich that you could help with a question. What was the name of the bar on the back of the inns that you could walk right through and come out on castle meadow?
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich all I can remember is that you could go in at the back of the inns walk up a level and go out on castle meadow. Believe it possibly was about where Waterstones book shop now is.
@@MultiAndrew1971 ah, I see, it wouldn't have been one of the suggestions that I made. I've looked closely at the photos I'll be using for the Castle Meadow video, and I'm afraid I can't see anything in that location.
@@InArcadiaSum I think 80s. I know that it was closed and demolished as part of the castle mall development. So maybe not where I thought it was at Waterstones. Mind plays tricks after so many nights out in the pubs we used to have in the past
Yes I remember the "Highlander" though don't remember calling him "old harry" .As children out with mum and dad shopping.Seeing things like this made shopping less boring. Does anyone remember the cobblers automaton in the window of the cobblers at the end of White Lion street? And I seem to remember very occasionally being taken into a tea rooms along there where all the ladies wore little white apron's.Was it Lyons tea rooms?
Hi,you might be thinking about Matthes bakers and tea room at the Back of the inns ? They did wear small hats but as I remember wore pale yellow nylon garments.
