Lost Norwich - Golden Ball Street/Cattle Market Street

[@InArcadiaSum]

Happy memories. As a small boy, I used to go to the Cattle Market by the castle with my grandfather, who farmed in Suffolk, to buy sheep, pigs and cattle. When the market moved to Harford, the area became a large car park. Boston's used to advertise rick cloths on their building behind the Bell, facing to the market, as well as being a source for corduroy trousers that would almost stand up on their own account. The buildings on Bell Avenue at one time had public lavatories and a pet shop. I think there was also an ice cream parlour.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you so much for adding those details which help to bring the story to life.

[@theoloyla]

Yep I remember when it was the cattle market and then a car park and the Easter & Xmas fairs too

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@theoloyla lots of changes!

[@InArcadiaSum]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich In 1969-70, the pet shop on Bell Avenue was Norwich Premier Pet Shop. At 4-7 Bell Avenue was The Gardener's Store "now a fine new self-selection shop with everything for your garden".

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@InArcadiaSum fantastic detail, thanks.

[@yo-sup]

Wonderful look back at the area and thank you. Fond memories of better days for the city, a time when it had charm and character not the graffiti and the beggers we have now.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. I agree with you about the ugliness of graffiti. I did a video about it, and it was sent to the City Council, but there's been very little progress

[@borleyboo5613]

I always said Norwich is like York, (where I’m originally from) in many ways. Hundreds of pubs, a cathedral and the cattle market. It seems to be a thing that cathedral cities always have so many boozers. Very interesting and informative video as always. I love seeing the old photos. Thank you. 😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you so much. I wish Norwich's city wall was more like York's!

[@katemanley3081]

Hi John, just want to say thank you for creating these wonderful and informative videos. I’ve recently moved to the area and your videos have helped me get to know the history of this beautiful city. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Kate. That means a lot. 👍

[@kanarykev]

Great video again John,I remember King Beefy too, often joined a long queue for a burger but wouldn’t put money on it being beef! As I recall it was served from a converted Ford Anglia estate or van and my mates and myself were probably en route to the Tudor Hall or the Samson and Hercules! Happy days indeed.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

something I think we all took for granted, and could never see it changing!

[@adrianrutterford762]

Wonderful, as ever. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you, it's fun to do!

[@davidkitchen7941]

It am always surprised by the number of pubs that there used to be in Norwich a couple of generations ago. Maintaining one’s sobriety must have been quite challenging.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Yes absolutely! A tiny proportion remain.

[@borleyboo5613]

It was the same in York where I’m originally from. It seems that cathedral cities were all the same for having many pubs. 😊

[@mancroft]

Excellent. Thank you. I remember animals being sold at the cattle market in the 1950s.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you 👍

[@flatulentcat1947]

Every time you mention Zaks, my mouth starts to water.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Zaks zaks zaks 😃

[@flatulentcat1947]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Cheers for that John... 🤤🤤🤤

[@hetaera3418]

Another excellent video, John, thank you. Your channel content should be archived, I think, so that it is never lost. Your virtual tours add a clarity to the layout of the old city that is hard to establish by photos and maps alone. Interesting fact - I was told that the upper rooms of the Old Steam Packet public house were rented out to people who wished to watch the public executions that took place at the top of the castle. These rooms apparently offered a particularly good view. The guide told me this on a tour of the dungeons at Norwich Castle, so I believe it to be true.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you very much. I had heard something along those lines too. In terms of archiving, obviously I hope KZbin continues indefinitely, as that's where they are publicly available. I also have the original videos that I upload to KZbin on a separate hard disc, so hopefully that is as permanent as possible.

[@hetaera3418]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich - I can imagine that, as with many things in this digital age, KZbin will change and evolve over time. However I can't see it ever ceasing to exist. I'm far from an expert on this topic but your videos strike me as being made to a professional standard and, just like old Norwich itself, are worthy of not being lost. I know that County Council has an archives department but you have clearly taken precautions yourself and quite rightly so as your work is a gift and a valuable one at that. My family adores your channel and I am sure that we're not alone!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@hetaera3418 thank you, so much, that's so kind of you to say so. I think it would be sensible for me to contact the County Council, at least for advice, so I will do that.

[@hetaera3418]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich - you're very welcome. Keep the videos coming!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@hetaera3418 I intend to!

[@jokennedy2943]

Ahh, a Zak’s or a King Greasy ( as we called it ) depended on how skint we were or if we were on our way to Tudor Hall! Good memories 😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Exactly right Jo, Zaks had to be saved for payday!

[@carolh9734]

Me too. Though I might have had a Zak's after leaving Tudor Hall. Then over to the taxi company near panks

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@carolh9734 brilliant, thank you!

[@ricardo-lq4bq3pp3l]

My wifes parents had the Buff Coat pub and when it closed they moved down to the Builders Arms.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks for adding your comments.

[@ricardo-lq4bq3pp3l]

Wicks pet shop was next to the Buff Coat pub. I bought a white mouse there in the early 1950's

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

These are all fantastic details being added, thank you!

[@theoloyla]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich My family bought a hamster from there too about 1960

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@theoloyla brilliant!

[@steveblyth2055]

My dad used to work in Wicks pet shop.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@steveblyth2055 thanks for adding that detail 👍

[@andrewgill7398]

Mention of the toilets on Bell Avenue reminds me of the time, I think the eighties, when our Company had the job to refurbish the toilets for the Council. The toilets were officially closed, but looking at the desperation on the faces of some of the ladies after a long bus ride in from the County, our Foreman would open the fence, hold their hands and walk them across the site and even up some scaffold boards so they could get some relief. He reckoned he could have charged them a pound a time (not a penny) and they would have paid. He said "I could have made a fortune!" .

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Fantastic story! Couldn't get away with that today 😂

[@The_Brit_Girls]

I enjoyed my second watch of your video! Interesting how times have changed. Previously a cattle/pig/sheep market and now a shopping and leisure centre. I really enjoyed looking at the old photos and seeing the comparisons with today. Thank you!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you....but what was wrong with the first watch? 🤔😂

[@thetruthk5138]

So good that it had to be watched again ;-)

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@thetruthk5138 😂or maybe the first viewing was so bad it was unbelievable

[@thetruthk5138]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Don't put yourself down John I enjoy the videos Thanks

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@thetruthk5138 thanks very much, it's great that you enjoy the videos 👍

[@apjay]

Really good video as usual John, thank you! There is an error in the location of the image of the Plough Pub displayed at 2:05 though I think. In fact the modern equivalent is taken from a different location, further up towards Ber Street, and indeed you can see the Plough Pub still standing in the background to the right of that modern image

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Andy. A good point well made! This was the one photo that looked easy to identify on the face of it, but in reality I really struggled to do so.

[@simongee8928]

Ahh, Zak's caravan; in it's day, the best burgers, no contest - ! 😅

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

True 👍

[@kanarykev]

Agreed! Seemed pricey at the time but my they were good!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@kanarykev could only be bought on payday!

[@kanarykev]

Yep definitely!

[@simongee8928]

@@kanarykev And not forgetting the tinfoil road outside Zak's. It was de rigeur and almost expected to chuck your screwed up tinfoil wrapper into the road afterwards - ! 🤣

[@hellybelly6]

Well researched! Shame parts of history have been lost

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you!

[@lewis72]

3:18 I remember the BMW dealership being to the left of the Shirehall Tavern in the 1980s !

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you! I find that really difficult to visualise!

[@lewis72]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich You can just seen the sign in this photo. Large glass-fronted building either side of the entrance and a dark blue BMW 635CSi on display just behind the window !

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@lewis72 thanks, it seems a strange place for a dealership.

[@lewis72]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Didn't seem so strange at the time. I think that Mann Egerton was just down the road a little, on St Vedast Street.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@lewis72 my friend had a BMW at the time and he says it was called Averill's with about two cars in a showroom.

[@jordanswan3111]

1:30 is that a photo from 1860!? If so, must be the oldest photo of Norwich I've ever seen

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

That's certainly what it said! And I agree, it must be the oldest Norwich photo. I just checked, and photography was invented in 1822, so I guess it's possible there is one older....

[@jordanswan3111]

@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Off the top of my head, the first modern photograph is 1840 or so - the 'view from the window'. Have seen a handful of Norwich from 1890's but none earlier

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@jordanswan3111 I must admit, this is by far the oldest photo I have seen.

[@hornslane]

I can remember Swifts!!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

That's pretty impressive!

[@hornslane]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Also Warrens cafe next door to the chicken sale!!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@hornslane all I can say is "wow"!

[@georgewoods8231]

My wife's Aunt & Uncle were the "Swift's" who ran the sweet shop until its final days. Bubby & George.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@georgewoods8231 thanks so much for adding that detail 👍