Lost Norwich - Bedford Street & St Andrew's Hill

[@borleyboo5613]

What a mix of architectural styles there is here in one of the most interesting and picturesque parts of beautiful Norwich. And that ‘letter’ from Franks Bar was so sad. Thank you for another great video of lovely Norwich past and present.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you - I'm pleased you enjoyed it and found it interesting. And you're absolutely right about the letter.

[@davegoldsmith4020]

Brilliant John, Just returned from the city having walked along Bedford street, Seeing the Bridewell sign suddenly hit me, it was fifty-three years ago this month I first walked into bridewell alley from Bedford street. I was sixteen, and about to enter the RAF recruiting office, for my first set of exams, before joining up in the October. Two years later, stationed at RAF Coltishall, as part of the BBMF ground crew, I often drank in the Wildman, it was one of our regular haunts. I had not noticed the 1490 entrance either! Thanks for jogging some happy memories

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you very much Dave, it's great to have those details added here.

[@HarrysHappenings]

John yet another great video full of information. Well done

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Harry and the Happenings........

[@James050]

I am only 18 years old, And since doing my Geography work for my final project on Anglia Sqaure my interest with the history of my city which i have lived in for all my life has increased so much. Your channel is very informative and I appreciate the great work and effort ❤

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you very much James. It's great that you've shared that. I would have been about 18 when I first became interested in the city:s history, and now I've retired I can spend time learning so much more in doing these videos. I hope your interest continues. Thanks for commenting 👍

[@peterjameson321]

John, I can't thank you enough for yet another video about Norwich then and now. Always a great treat to watch and remember.❤

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much Peter for your kind comments 👍

[@ricardo-lq4bq3pp3l]

Loved old stuff John. Always a pleasure to watch your videos and note the changes through the years.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you very much for your kind comment.

[@pmcfarlane7660]

Really enjoyed your video, John. Another fascinating look at Norwich. Thanks for posting it.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much, glad you liked it!

[@cbarton64]

Superb as always John - Thank you

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much Chris.

[@James47298]

Another excellent in depth vid of streets we all walk past/through with no idea of rich history.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you James, much appreciated.

[@stephenlacey6512]

Highly informative, amazing research. Thank you.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Stephen

[@simonconner5351]

Fascinating as ever. Always wondered about School Lane. Franks Bar was previously my favourite bookshop, Gliddons if I recall correctly.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Simon. Gerald Gliddon apparently.

[@mancroft]

Excellent as usual. Thank you.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much

[@The_Brit_Girls]

Fascinating to know there was once a girls' school in that location, and that a small piece of it remains. The name of the pub was surprising, 'The True Comrades'. I had heard the story of the wild boy but hadn't realised that 'The Wild Man' was named after him. Loved the ancient Bridewell Prison doorway, fascinating. What a lovely message on Frank's Bar. Brilliant video with a nice ending.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. It was the message on Frank's Bar, which was so heartfelt, that inspired me to look at this area.

[@theoloyla]

Brilliant video as always. Loved Hovells. Shame they have gone. Had a shop in North Walsham too. In Autumn 1968 (before I left the City) I did discos every week in the cellar of the Bedford Arms.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Theo, great comment👍

[@susanwestern6434]

Absolutely fascinating. I had always wondered about that strange medieval building next to the telephone exchange.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Susan. Glad to have helped solve a mystery - though it has a longer history than the school!

[@simongee8928]

What is now the Vape Outlet was, fifty years ago, Pearson's the Cutlers, a very well established shop which produced a wide variety of goods. It was fascinating to pass and look through the basement windows to see the tradesmen at work. As a lad, at home we had several large bone handled butter knives engraved with the Pearson's name and address. 😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Fantastic detailed information, thanks so much Simon.

[@simongee8928]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich You're welcome - ! 😁

[@dereham1]

I can’t believe I have never noticed that old entrance to the Bridewell (dated 1490 - amazing) - I must have scurried past with my head down trying to ignore the row of shops selling stuff which didn’t interest me. As ever, this video is Informative, educational and entertaining - Lord Reith would approve.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Good Lord! I had to check out who he was. Looking at his photo, I hope the video would make him smile!

[@glynluff2595]

Look up at no 2 and 4 St Andrew’s Hill as there you will see a weaver’s window. In the sixties it was the Bedford cafe that looked down Bedford Street. Dakin’s Coffee Merchants were next to Chads and the street smelled of roasting coffee. They later moved to the top of Ber Street but the premises are now owned and used by Notre Dam School. St Andrew’s Hill was a very busy junction several times a day as the newspapers were loaded into the news vans for delivery around Norfolk from back of Eastern Daily Press which fronted onto Redwell Street.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

There's some great info you've added there - thanks! Love the description of how the street smelt.

[@adrianrutterford762]

Wonderful work. Thanks as ever. As usual so much (and so little) has changed.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Adrian, I think your final sentence puts it very well.

[@adrianrutterford762]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Thank you.

[@hetaera3418]

And R.I.P Frank's Bar!!! Such a wonderful place and such a sad loss to the independent scene in Norwich.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

And such a wonderful message, which I am so glad to have been able to capture.

[@hetaera3418]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich - that message is history in the making so well done for recording it.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@hetaera3418 thank those at Frank's Bar for something so heartfelt and poignant.

[@hetaera3418]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich - agreed.

[@LiftManAmer]

Ah awesome! I was always wandering what on earth is that tiny little building that looks like its been chopped in half in a middle of a carpark was!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you - it's certainly got its own story!

[@hetaera3418]

I always wondered what that tiny little slice of a building was near the old Churchill's tobacconist (my late uncle and local pipe smoking champion was the final owner of this business). Part of the girls school! Mind. Blown.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

And more. Also a house, part of a cinema, a museum, and maybe more!

[@zzooeecastles]

the goto shop in the 80's you missed out:( It stood on 9/11 Bedford Street until the mid-2000s, when it sized down to become a stall on Norwich Market.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much for adding that detail. Sorry for missing it!

[@zzooeecastles]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich really enjoy vids:) Norwich was our weekend playground from a village nr Drearham always come back to play when ever i pass through:)

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@zzooeecastles thank you!

[@dmsnch]

Another enjoyable video. But a pity you had nothing to say about the corner premises between the two streets (the vape store in the thumbnail image). It was Pearson’s Cutlers from around 1840 to 1987. I know old photos are hard to find, but I could have supplied one from 1987. Worth putting a call out .

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks for adding that detail. I only became aware of that with comments on the video. If you have a photo that you can share here that would be great.

[@lukewolsey]

I always thought exchange street was called exchange street because of the telephone exchange at the bottom!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

I must admit/confess - so did I!

[@lukewolsey]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich 🤣

[@theoloyla]

me too

[@mattw8332]

My friends and I used to drink in Kafe Da and Bedfords in the late 1990s.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks so much for adding those details 👍

[@jonathanhunt5618]

Very much enjoyed this, John. I know you have a lot of photos to show, but could keep each one on screen for just a little bit longer? Otherwise, you have to stop the video a lot.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks for the feedback, Jonathan. It depends how much I have to say about each photo, with an aim of keeping most videos between about 5 and 7 minutes. But I take your point, and will try to extend any particularly short clips without making the overall video drag. Thanks for commenting 👍

[@jonathanhunt5618]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Thanks: you think things out very well, but suspect most of us wouldn't mind the videos being a little longer!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@jonathanhunt5618 thank you!