Lost Norwich - Hay Hill, Haymarket & Sir Thomas Browne

[@robertyoung9611]

Fascinating as ever, keep 'em coming.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Robert.

[@The_Brit_Girls]

I found this so fascinating. I immediately watched it through again! Poor old Thomas Browne, kept inside a shed, labelled as art. Thank goodness they released him from that hideous construction! What a fabulous photo of the escaped cattle relaxing on the grass outside St. Peter Mancroft Church! The old nighttime view was so charming. I wanted to step inside the photograph and walk along the illuminated street. Ooh, I used to love going into Snob! Great picture of the old White Horse pub. Haha, the piece of land in the experiment became a carpark! The newly renovated Hay Hill looks so much better than before. It's so nice to see some greenery, although I do have fond memories of the old water feature outside C & A overflowing with bubbles! Thanks for a brilliant vlog ❤

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you for paying attention to remember so many things to write about. Apparently you could walk through the shed to see Sir TB . The White Horse pub would have been an experience. Thanks for watching.

[@donnabilling3061]

Interesting as usual. I really like the the recent changes. Lovely and leafy with places to sit and the gentle sound of water 👍🏻

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you. Your description sums it up nicely.

[@martinthirkettle599]

Great video John. I well remember sitting on the grass below the statue of Sir Thomas Browne in the early 70’s whilst the aroma of another type of grass wafted around before sloping off to Just Johns deli in White Lion Street for a chunk of cheesecake. Things seemed a lot more relaxed then.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

You seem fairly relaxed now Martin!

[@pauljmccluskey5532]

Loving all these nostalgic videos. I was a 6-year old and remember the water feature outside C&A like it was yesterday! I remember sitting on the wall, more poignantly so, in the great summer of 1976 and enjoying the cool sensation from the waterfall. Thanks for the wonderful memories 😅

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Paul for sharing your own memories so evocatively.

[@pauljmccluskey5532]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich You’re welcome ☺️ I’ve lived in Norwich since 1974 and have seen so many changes ☺️

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Absolutely. Ive seen lots of changes even in the four years I've been doing these videos.

[@davegoldsmith4020]

Interesting video John, I think poor old Sir Thomas Browne is holding his confused head, trying to understand why this area has had so much money spent on it, Looking back at the nice green grass photo with Peter Mancroft in the background is much better than the recent versions of concrete expanses. Trees, grass, seating, would make a nice change in the city centre, taking into account you only have to walk up to the forum to see another mass area of concrete.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

I often think the same about Sir Thomas Browne, who probably never dreamed he'd end up in front of McDonald's. But it is the highest point of the hill and allows him to look down on what's below. Personally I like this new in carnation, but I understand what you're saying.

[@davegoldsmith4020]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich We passed the area the day the fencing came down, there were so many office types in nice new hard hats, and bright shiny Daglo overalls you would not believe. the current incarnation of the area looks ok at the moment. but i noticed the steps were wet close to the water features, the wind had caught the spray. How will that be in the winter weather, you also mentioned the soap in the water feature back in the C&A days, and what happened with that. Let's hope people enjoy the area, next summer will tell. Looking forward to your next Video as always

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Dave, yes I understand there are so.e complaints about people slipping. We must wait and see!

[@jokennedy2943]

Excellent John! A Saturday lunch drink in the George and a wander round the city- and watching the bubbles after the lads dumped detergent in the the water feature , happy days 😊

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Absolutely! Thanks Jo.

[@ajc7166]

We used to meet in the George on a Saturday lunch time then walked down to Carrow road for the football.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@ajc7166 just last week I did the same - except it was Mcdonald's and a hot chocolate!

[@mancroft]

I remember the makeshift shed. You could walk through it right next to the statue. Had my first pub beer in Backs.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks for that information.

[@IDreamOfGaming]

Brilliant video. Great to see.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you, glad you liked it.

[@adrianrutterford762]

Thanks John. Another fascinating video.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Adrian, glad you enjoyed it.

[@adrianrutterford762]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Always enjoy your great work.

[@littlelioness4278]

I used to love going "Up the city" when I was little ❤

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Up the city - a phrase which should never be lost!

[@stevecampbell9686]

We used to go 'up the city' even though we had to go down Ketts Hill to get there!

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Ah, nice one! 😂​@@stevecampbell9686

[@Ratty_Rex]

Another great video. :)

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you!

[@theoloyla]

Remember going to the cinema in the late 50's with my Mum (I was too young to go on my own) and we saw "Reach For The Stars" (The film about Douglas Bader) and The Dambusters

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Brilliant! Thanks for the detail.

[@peterjameson321]

Thank you for yet another great video John. What is the wooden structure standing in the new Haymarket area?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you Peter. I believe it will be an ice cream sales point.

[@pauljmccluskey5532]

@@peterjameson321 I can guess that it may even be a “mini” Costa 🤔

[@ElizabethHastings-r4j]

Dad thinks the picture @1:22 might have been late 60s early 70s. He remembers the have picnic lunches on the green when he and grandparents would travel to the city for a day's shop

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

@@ElizabethHastings-r4j fantastic, thanks so much.

[@kevintracey4644]

Great piece John! As someone has already pointed out I do recall the waterfall foaming! It’s incredible to see the constant changes over the years. It seems as though the City Council could never really decide what they ought to do with the Haymarket. The latest iteration looks nice but for how long?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks Kevin, hopefully for a while....but on the day I took my photos, the day after it had opened, there was already rubbish strewn about.

[@kevintracey4644]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich It’s no surprise. Some people are far too busy, important and entitled to dispose of their rubbish. It’s always someone else’s job/fault/problem.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Sad but true​@@kevintracey4644

[@apocalypticweasel9078]

Yes i remember Saturday mornings making our way down to C&A an TopShop back in the 80's grabbing a bottle fairy liquid on the way and adding it to the fountain.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Lots of confessions on here today!🤣

[@InArcadiaSum]

When I was at the Art School in the Sixties, Back's in the Haymarket was a favoured venue (among many others!) for us and for the UEA people. There was a front entrance, and another at the back which was a passageway out into one of the lanes behind. When the police were in action on catching pot smokers etc., they came rushing in the front, and everyone rushed out the back. Next raid around, and the process was reversed. Back's management took a very dim view of it all.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thank you so much for adding those details. Helps to bring it all to life.

[@lukewolsey]

This is where all the goths and emos used to congregate in the mid 2000s. 'Going up the Haymarket?'

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

I've not heard that expression. Sounds like the Haymarket had a significance which passed me by!

[@lukewolsey]

​@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich you weren't part of the emo scene of 2002-2005? I am surprised! 😂

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

You know me too well! ​@@lukewolsey

[@georgemaybury5494]

Brilliant, as always. How long does it take to research for one of these videos? Have you ever done one which included the Orford Cellar? Hope you are keeping well?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks George, yes all well thank you, hope you are too. At the moment I'm doing a new video every three weeks, which fits in quite nicely. In terms of the Orford Cellar, it features briefly in a very early video I did entitled Lost Norwich - Pubs. Maybe also in one entitled Music Venues, but I'm not sure....

[@georgemaybury5494]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich ThanksJohn, I'll find those and have a look. All good here, thank you. Take care

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

👍

[@preston249]

I'm afraid I was guilty of squirting fairy liquid into the older water feature. Gravity took the suds to Littleworths doors and shoppers wading through the suds. As kids we thought it hilarious 😂

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

It's great of you to confess! It's gone down in legend, so I don't think you need have any regrets!

[@mancroft]

Hooligan!

[@preston249]

@@mancroft I'm afraid so.

[@MrJohn768]

Tut tut 😂😂😂 😅 a good 'clean' joke 😂

[@tim01263]

What was the reasoning behind building C&A and Topshop? Both are contenders for most visually offensive buildings in the city centre!

[@lukewolsey]

Or the card factory shop opposite. Yuck. At least Primark seems to have been redone in a reasonably nice way.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

No idea! But I can't disagree with you! Next in particular is ugly in my eyes.

[@roycrawford372]

Another very interesting video of the history of that area but just think about the money the Council has SPENT there & other places like Castle Meadow & St Steven’s that in my opinion hasn’t been worth what it cost.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

I have no idea how much h this cost,but I do feel it's an improvement on what was there before.

[@MrJohn768]

Excellent ! Thank you, John...really enjoyed that. As to dating that photo from the cars, well, I am going to go with a Mini, a Morris and a Humber - but I can date the photo as 2nd June 1962 from the nasturtium beds !! 😃 😀 😄

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Thanks very much, much amused by your precision!

[@justinehayward2553]

Can anyone remember the Palomino horse in C&A?

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

Not me - but maybe someone reading this can....

[@justinehayward2553]

@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich I lived in Norwich from 72/3 until 1988. I lived above Croppers in St Gregory's Alley from 86-88.

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

You'll have noticed some changes!

[@simongee8928]

Lambert's on the corner of White Lion St. was one of the best retailers of virtually every 's smoking requisite' you could imagine in the 70s. A wonderful shop with the smell of so many loose tobaccos - ! 😊 Such a shame that the name on the front of the George & Dragon was chiselled off. It was part of the history of the building and such wanton vandalism should be illegal - ! 😮

[@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich]

A lovely description of Lamberts, thank you Simon.