Lost Norwich - Earlham Road & Unthank Road

[@glynluff2595]

I lived at 39 Unthank in the fifties. This was, for a time, the. House of George Skipper, the architect. It had a splendid pair of built in bookcases either side of a fire place. The rear lawn was originally laid of Cumberland turf to allow crown green bowling.The plot was a half acre and nearer the beguiling of the 20th century had been part of a school complex with No 41. The lane in between them lead to Lacey and Son, fruit merchants and nurserymen. They ran a fleet of five lorries garaged in a long garage adjoining The Elms. The terrace of houses. From 41 to 47 is mentioned in Pevsner’s book on Norwich buildings. In Somerleyton Street, post war there was a development of prefabricated bungalows and Dodger’s lay behind them. The Park Tavern was tenanted by Emmy Cooper whose husband was a policeman but was incapacitated in an institution. There was always a rum for the foot patrol on the window sill on a cold winter’s night. George Cooper was the local taxi driver who lived on Park Road in a detached house on the left about fifty yards from the Unthank turn. A garage and filling station was opposite the Park and this was rebuilt in th3 late fifties with a flat over the work area. It is now a small supermarket. The lamp posts on Unthank were the old tram poles with light additions. I have raced to the top of these after a heady night! The Milk Marketing Board had three electric delivery vehicles which recharged in their delivery bays when not in use. Yaxley’s were in St Giles and paid a substantial amount of money to Norwich City Council,to,preserve the city wall when building a modern electrical and electronic workshop. Within a few years it was bulldozed to allow the inner link and the wall erased. Herbert Yaxley,was very bitter about the money the City had taken from him.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you for adding these wonderful details, which add significantly to the story. I'd like to re-visit the area with your comments in mind. Thanks again, it will mean a lot to others reading the comments.

[@jokennedy2943]

Excellent as always, John

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Jo, glad you enjoyed it.

[@theoloyla]

Yes at 3.07 the building on the corner of Grapes Hill was Hunter & Oliver wine merchants where I had a saturday job in the mid 60's. You can just see the shop front with the large entrance to where the vans came and went with the deliveries. There were wine cellars underneath and flats above.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

I'm glad it showed the shop too.

[@IDreamOfGaming]

Another excellent video. Thanks.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much 👍

[@fionapotter1215]

Loved this, as I was born in Chapelfield North, the park was my play area, Earlham and Unthank Rd very familiar and I've been inside Curfew Lodge as my parents needed a house to rent in 1968 but it was so spooky we decided not to !

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

That sounds very sensible! Thanks for commenting - you might also like my videos on Grapes Hill and Chapelfield Road.

[@TownHouseFilms]

Very interesting video. I have long thought that pub names should be protected in law as they often contribute to an understanding of the history of an area. Pub names really should be a heritage issue.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. I wholeheartedly agree!

[@borleyboo5613]

I live at 124 Earlham Road nearly opposite The Mitre on the corner of Caernarvon Road. I remember it as a pub, a Chinese restaurant and now the coffee bar. I’ve lived here for nearly seventeen years and I love it. Very interesting video. Thank you. 😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. Glad you found it interesting. If you saw someone wandering aimlessly with a camera a few weeks ago, it could've been me!

[@borleyboo5613]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwichlol. In one still in the video, there is an ABC taxi waiting near Mitre car park. That was probably waiting for me. 😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@borleyboo5613 Ha ha!

[@thetruthk5138]

Down Unthank Rd City end through the white gates near the old electrical shop which is now shut and empty. There's about 12 large houses tucked away. It's so quiet up there some of the gardens are so large you wouldn't know you were in the City centre it's lovely there . Thanks John as always.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. I can't quite visualise where you mean. Is that The Elms?

[@thetruthk5138]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich No you will notice two white gates it's called the Gateway. Apparently the is a waiting list at some estate agents when one comes on to the market But it's all out of my reach ;-)

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@thetruthk5138 ah, right - thanks for clarifying 👍

[@janusz0]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich It's behind the last incarnation of Norketts lighting shop, which is now a gallery occasionally. (I remember Norketts in what is now Al Dente on St Giles) Thanks for the excellent photo tour.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@janusz0 thank you, I've found it now, with a bit of googling of the name, and a look at Streetview!

[@arthurramm8664]

Thank you John

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

you're very welcome!

[@AndreasYiasimi]

Awesome video John, so interesting and well presented. Thank you.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you very much Andreas.

[@LandofCholas]

You collected old pics! Black and white is always awesome to watch❤❤❤

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

I agree, b & w can be so evocative!

[@paulkirkland3263]

I live just off Unthank Road. Fascinating to see these old photos - I never knew about the Milk Marketing Board building. The Pear Tree Inn is nice, if you can get in there. A favourite with the local student population, but no matter - there are plenty of other pubs within a couple of minutes walk. Best thing I did after retirement was come back to Norwich - I love living here.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@paulkirkland3263 likewise! Thanks for your comment.

[@teenaoakleyart2700]

So good to see The Elms, my dad worked at Mackintosh’s for around 35 years. The big social club you showed from the gate used to do a family disco every other Saturday. I have many happy memories of the disco, and when they used to stop half way through the night to serve cheese or ham rolls (was always a big queue 😊), and then they did a raffle, before continuing the rest of the disco, finishing at 11pm. We were often the last family to leave. We’d then go home and watch the double bill of Hammer House of Horror films on BBB2. (Yes my parents let us watch horror films, and I still love them now!) I remember they used to let the children pick the winning raffle tickets out of the bucket, then whoever won had to go choose their prize, there were usually 5 or 6 if I remember correctly. I adored The Elms social club, they also did fetes and other events. I have a photo of me picking sweets out of the tin at a fete, it was the couple on the Quality Street tin lid that were passing them out! You don’t get that kind of community from employers now. So many happy memories 😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you so much for adding all those details. I am sure other people reading this will recognise what you describe. You are so right about how employers no longer provide such facilities, but maybe in part that's a change in what employees want.

[@theoloyla]

Yep my Mum Doreen Ling worked at Mackintoshes and had her retirement party at The Elms. Was a nice place

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@theoloyla thanks for adding that - helps bring the subject to life.

[@nikonrulz]

Excellent video.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much - glad you enjoyed it.

[@adrianrutterford762]

Thanks John. Wonderfully informative, and interesting, as ever.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Adrian.

[@paulshreeve6577]

St Thomas church was originally a Victorian gothic style church (my parents were married there in Feb 1941) but was firebombed in the Baedecker raids and burnt out. The building was restored after WWII.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much for adding those details 👍

[@Maryita_]

Красивая прогулка по красивым местам. Приятное знакомство. Успеха вам в создании новых красивых видеоклипов

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Спасибо за ваш добрый комментарий. Я рад, что вам понравилось.

[@apjay]

Another great video. This one is interesting that, with the exception of the area around Upper St Giles Street and Grapes Hill, many of the views remain relatively unchanged. Very interesting to see the buildings that used to flank the Black Horse pub though - had no idea they had been there.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Andy. Yes many of these scenes are all very recognisable. My next video is about Upper St Giles, Cow Hill and Willow Lane, much if which has changed very little.

[@antonchristian873]

Great video ! I remember the William and Florence when it was the 'Rose Valley', I was an art student in late 70s, I lived at 128 Unthank Rd, and Rose Valley was my local !

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Looks like an interesting local to have had.

[@antonchristian873]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Thanks ! the Rose Valley was a lovely pub, but never crowed, I guess they needed to attract more customers to avoid total closure, which seems very sad in these days where pubs need to diversify to satisfy a growing demand to become 'gastro pubs', etc, but also lose a lot of their original Identity in doing so, I met my wife in a pub in Wrenningham/ Hethel, called the 'Bird in Hand', another lovely place that has become a 'Gastro-Pub ', but at least that's better than closing down. I really like your posts, so keep up the good work !

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@antonchristian873 thank you, I will! Wish I had seen the original Rose Valley.

[@peterjameson321]

Thank you John. As always another fascinating and absorbing video. I lived in the Earlham Road area years ago and saw the bus in the hole close up soon after the road collapsed. Thankfully no one was hurt. An elderly lady I knew who lived across the road was very terrified in case her house would succumb too as were many residents at the time.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Peter. I imagine it was a very concerning time for everybody nearby.

[@stefkuna]

That area was my stomping ground for much of my life but particularly in the early 80s. I remember staggering to the 24hr Shell garage with midnight munchies, now replaced by Tescos. On Earlham Rd roughly opposite Chester Place was a lovely but derelict perhaps Georgian cottage with a cellar. I think part of it had suffered the same fate as the No. 22 bus and was eventually demolished.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much. It's always great to get shared memories added to the comments.

[@susanwestern6434]

I remember walking past that falling down white building. It became too unsafe and was knocked down. But some remaining stumps of walls remain. Which can be seen when occasionally the wooden barrier falls down, in what must have been the entrance to it. It was called either the Dingle or the Dell. The Dingle or the Dell, is next to the Black Horse pub, I can't remember which is which.

[@stefkuna]

@@susanwestern6434 DIngle sounds familiar... thanks. But such a long time ago!

[@dereham1]

“Let us conclude this video with a couple of pubs …” 🍺🍺

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Sounds good to me ☺️

[@DeeProbert]

Great collection!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you!

[@jamesgilbart2672]

It used to be said that Norwich had a pub for every day of the year and a church for every week. It's good to see that many of both survive.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Absolutely! Though sometimes repurposed....

[@mikebrennan6165]

Thanks John, very interesting video. I lived on Dereham Road (almost opposite the Reindeer in 1996/97 whilst a post grad at UEA and regularly cycled up and down Earlham Rd, had a few pints in the Lilly Langtree! Happy days and still one of my favourite cities in the UK. If you havent done one already, a video on some of the pubs would be intersting I think.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much Mike. Here's one about pubs of King Street. There is another one I did simply called "Lost Norwich -Pubs" but it was an early one and a bit rough around the edges! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4a7iGOLeK50Z9E

[@simongee8928]

This was my 'play area' as a wee lad in the 60s and it minded me of much of what was there. Opposite the Plantation Gardens, ( of which I was a founder member of the trust - ! ) there were several streets of terraced houses; one being Distillery Street. My dad was responsible for the restoration of the west end of St.John's in 1965 when it was discovered that the poor quality stone used was crumbling very badly. As I went to school in Dereham Road, my route took me down Earlham Road until Heigham Road.😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks so much Simon for adding all those details.

[@simongee8928]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Apparently the Duke of Norfolk who was St.John's patron for the build ran out of funds thus the poor quality stonework and the fact that bells were never installed. Seeing the vast, empty belfry up in the tower was weird and quite sad in it's way.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@simongee8928 absolutely fascinating Simon, I had no idea.

[@Curryking32000]

anther wonderful video, thank you. I love these!! I used to live in Berners Street, can you do a video around there. Would love to see some old photo's.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. I'll see what I can find.

[@jan-toreegge9252]

As ever, interesting to observe the changes in the cityscape, so thanks! Also interesting to see tram tracks. I didn't realise until now that Norwich had had trams (which were, of course, long since gone when I studied there in 1991-1992).

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. The trams were only there for a short period, 1900-35. You might like a video I made a out the trams...Lost Norwich Trams

[@DJWerkz]

There was a very nice little independent audio store down Unthank Road in the 80’s (a little further than the area this video focuses on). I can’t recall the name but I am sure they were connected to Faraday Sound loudspeakers, interesting concrete cabinet design I think. Maybe the store was actually Faraday too?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks for adding the comment. Maybe someone reading this can provide more details.

[@davegoldsmith4020]

As usual an interesting video, the iconic bus shot most people know of, but not exactly where it was. I have a love of churches and have visited most in Norwich, but for some reason have never been in our city's second cathedral, you have prompted me to visit next time I am in the city, Thanks John.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Dave, I think you're right about the exact location of the bus in the hole! Hope you enjoy your visit to the RC cathedral.

[@peterjameson321]

​@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich As I remember the bus sank into the hole precisely where Paragon Place joins Earlham Road.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@peterjameson321 that's right. That must have felt so strange for passengers!

[@peterjameson321]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Yes indeed. Once they got the bus out, the hole was incredibly deep. The bus could easily have up-ended and fallen in completely. Terrifying.

[@elizabethabbott9177]

I was aupairing in West Germany when the bus went down the chalk workings and it was on the news there! I also remember an advertising campaign for a chocolate bar ' nothing fills a hole like a double decker'...

[@frank_sales]

Funny I was just wondering about when you might cover Earlham Road and ..here it is!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Magic!

[@The_Brit_Girls]

As always, very well researched and presented. The photo of the bus falling through the road is a very iconic sight. I enjoyed seeing and learning about the comparisons between now and then. I wonder why they demolished the old Baptist church? In my opinion, it was a much more attractive building than the present United Reform Church.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. Yes, it must have been a shock for the passengers, literally having their world turned upside down.

[@Bruce-h8w]

From 1941 to 1943 as a tiny child I lived at 118 Unthank. My parents moved to Poplar Avenue off the Newmarket Road. I dimly recall a squadron of US tanks and other vehicles turning into PA, a cul-de-sac, mistaking it for what is now Bluebell Road. Any chance of a feature on the Newmarket Road? Such a lovely entrance to the city.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you for that interesting recollection. Newmarket Road is one that I hope to do one day, when I've collected enough historic photos.

[@Bruce-h8w]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Thanks for the good news! Happy hunting! I can remember seeing buses housed overnight under the trees along the road - in case the bombers hit the bus station or garage.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@Bruce-h8w it'll be a while yet, but I'm on the case!

[@pmcfarlane7660]

Another wonderful video, John. I really enjoyed it. How different the Black Horse looked.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you! I stood in front of the Black Horse and found it difficult to visualise!

[@pmcfarlane7660]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Yes, it's amazing looking at it flanked by the other buildings. It looks really different. See you in there for a pint, John. 😊🍺

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@pmcfarlane7660 sounds good! Cheers.

[@pmcfarlane7660]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Cheers, John. 😊👍🏻

[@tonypapworth4902]

Hi, I grew up at 180 Earlham Road, which was the end terraced house west of Earlham House Shopping Centre as it was known while being developed between our house and Recreation Road. I remember this land being woodland and a crude cycle speedway track at the top. I’ve heard that there was a house on this site at one time but can find no information about it. There were numbers missing in the Road for example 176 and 178. Does any one know of buildings here before 1960?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

I don't know if this picture helps. it's described as 170 Earlham Rd 170 Earlham House grounds. Pictured 1960 after the house had been demolished and before the erection of a shopping complex. Otherwise you could try picture.norfolk.gov.uk georgeplunkett.co.uk/Norwich/Parks%20and%20Gardens/Earlham%20Rd%20170%20Earlham%20House%20grounds%20[4586]%201960-10-02.jpg

[@susanwestern6434]

I used to know a couple who were customers. He had family in the area of St Thomas's Church. He died in his 90s in 2020. He remembered the house that was there in early 20th century.

[@ed1998]

Got any photos of the Hillside Club, on Mill Hill Rd?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

no, I'm sorry, I haven't.

[@hetaera3418]

Hi John, I hope you're well. Just to let you know that my father is dropping off his book collection to me on Thursday. So after that perhaps we can work out a way of getting them to you. I could meet you at the Compleat Angler or something, if that suits?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you, yes that would be great. We can liaise!

[@hetaera3418]

Hi John, hope you're well. I now have the books; about 15 or so. Please let me know what works best for you.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@hetaera3418 Thank you 👍. Would you like to contact me at [e-mail] and we can make arrangements.

[@leswaters4935]

My wife’s maiden name is Unthank we must visit there someday

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

You should....it apparently gained its name when William Unthank's son, Clement William Unthank, rode his horse along a sandy lane in order to court his future wife at Intwood!

[@jjcustard6378]

I thought the secret garden was older and had been uncovered and restored?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

It was definitely older than 1992, that was when those photos were taken.

[@94f1senna]

The church which was demolished in 1954 are you sure Because I was born in 1966 and when the picture came up i could remember walking through the light oak doors and remember everything about the church Then you said it was demolished in 1954 strange I've always toyed with the thought do we have past lives who knows But I can assure you I remember the church like yesterday As I said before about the lads club I was born and bred in Norwich Norwich could be so much more especially for the tourists bringing in billions of pounds and thousands of good jobs for people But in succession the local powers that be going back decades have stripped Norwich City of many little wonders Little streets, little businesses huge businesses some beautiful buildings and ripped out the heart of many little communities in and around Norwich Little corner shops they are almost gone, pubs only 25% exist now And most of this was down to very high business taxes and councils wanted to modernised like anglia Square Anglia Square the offices were built purely for the tax office Once they left anglia Square no matter how much they try to make it look nice Its just an eyesore And just think of the wonderful little shops and peoples homes and again communities that are lost for ever, The last time property's were affordable was when my dad bought his bungalow around 1984 £18.000 all property matched peoples wages yes there wages were obviously less but everything was in perspective I think I was 17 or 18 just too young to get a mortgage lol Then nineties it spiraled out of control Example Old farm buildings and barns were not worth anything There were thousands of empty rundown old farm buildings Then it went mad Sadly the biggest single issue i saw running my Roofing specialist and building renovation company was people from London where wages are more than 4 times greater than anywhere else Would buy 99% of properties holt, Sheringham North Norfolk Meaning the local people could not afford anything And Norwich was the same The golden triangle If you had a property within the golden triangle it was all about money Until they demolished the old hospital and built the new hospital But remember the new hospital may be on the outskirts of Norwich at moment but it won't be in 25 years time As Norwich expands the hospital will eventually become inside Norwich Still no one will still be able to afford to buy new homes especially the young people with families As both need to work 😩 Which takes us full circle I love watching the old videos especially of Norwich Its still a fantastic place to live and one of the best cities in the world 🌎 I just wish they would invest in our river that runs through Norwich Just think how amazing it would look and how lucky we are to have a river There's an old saying Charity begins at home The local councils and government needs to build and put resources into Great Britain 🇬🇧 First Because our local councils and government have and still are giving millions of pounds away in aid and our government gives billions of pounds away every month to other countries so they can have international space stations Upgrade there hundreds of thousands of houses Yet ignore UK problems Apologies Please subscribe and thumbs up These are brilliant videos

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you for your comment. I don't know where I got the date of the church's demolition from, but it came from somewhere I would have trusted! If I can find out any more I'll let you know.

[@robertcook2572]

A-ha....!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Ah. Ha ha.

[@MynameisTMP-]

I absolutely cannot stand this city

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks for your comment - always good to have an alternative view! Would you like to explain more?

[@stefkuna]

🤣

[@hornslane]

I lived on Earlham Road, number 123, in the late 50s, early 60s!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

an area you must know well then!

[@borleyboo5613]

@hornslane Wow! I live at 124c Earlham Road. 😊 Do you remember who lived at 124 at the time. I’d be very interested to know.

[@hornslane]

@@borleyboo5613 No, 123 was opposite side of the road!

[@hornslane]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Yes, I parked my car, a 1946 MG TC on the Mitre car park!!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@hornslane 😄