Steeped in history

from Norwich LANES #08 – Summer 2023

Welcome to the historic Norwich Lanes

YOU’LL FIND A STORY ON EVERY CORNER OF THE AWARD-WINNING NORWICH LANES

01 Scratch beneath the surface

Norwich has the largest amount of medieval undercrofts in the country with many of them in the Lanes. Mostly dating from the 15th century, they were built in this area because of the incline up from the nearby River Wensum. Today you can eat your chips in one beneath the Grosvenor Fish Bar in Pottergate or take a tour of the city’s largest undercroft at the Museum of Norwich in the Bridewell.

02 Fire, Fire!

In 1898 the Norwich Fire Station was moved from Guildhall to the yard of 12-16 Pottergate. Unfortunately, it was a month after one of the area’s worst fires which started at Hurn the rope and sail makers, seriously damaging much of Chamberlain’s department store and the nearby public library.

03 Friar, Friar

The Halls are the UK’s most complete surviving medieval friary complex. Built around 1279, the Halls were originally occupied by the Sack Friars from Marseille before being taken over by the Dominican Black Friars from nearby Colegate in 1307. Today, the Halls are a series of different-sized venues which play host to live music events, antique fairs and weddings.

04 If music be the food of love, play on Norwich Arts Centre has played host to some incredible bands who were just starting out over the years including Nirvana, Oasis, Coldplay, Muse and the Stone Roses to name but a few. Keep your eyes on their website and see if you can spot the next big thing.

05 Come On Eileen

Another piece of Lanes gig history. In 1977 in the very early days of Punk Rock, Kevin Rowland, lead singer of Dexy’s Midnight Runners, brought his first band The Killjoys to play a near dilapidated venue called Stuarts Hall in St Andrew’s Street. That very same building is now Cinema City.

06 The stuff of legends

St Gregory’s Church dates back to the 14th century and is not only an excellent antiques and collectables centre but is also home to one of the finest pieces of medieval wall art to be found in the UK. Measuring approximately 3.5m x 4m, the painting depicts St George slaying the dragon while a princess watches on. It is thought to have been painted by a former livery stable keeper who lived and worked nearby.

07 If the cap fits, wear it. Rumsey Wells (1877-1937) was a hat designer and manufacturer based on

Benedicts is a small, independently run restaurant serving modern British food using fresh, seasonal and regional produce that showcases Norfolk’s nest o erings.

Tasting Menu

Private Dining Space

3 AA Rosettes, Times Top 100 Restaurant & Michelin Listed

We are now in our ninth year and have established ourselves as a mainstay in the vibrant food scene of Norwich and East Anglia. We look forward to welcoming you to our restaurant.

From Richard Bainbridge, Chef Owner of the award-winning restaurant Benedicts in Norwich, BBC Saturday Kitchen Live regular and winner of BBC Great British Menu, comes an array of refined provisions for your pantry and freezer.

Artisanal store cupboard essentials made with the finest ingredients

Handmade in small batches in our kitchens in the heart of Norwich

Guild of Fine Food, Great Taste AwardWinning Super Seed Granola

R. B Provisions are available via our website, in delis/ farm shops across Norfolk and Su olk and can also be purchased at Benedicts.

St Andrew’s Street but known all over the world, not least for his ‘Doggie’ cap. Ex-patriots would greet wearers with a handshake saying: “I don’t know who the blazes you are, sir, but you’re wearing a Rumsey Wells cap, so dash it, come and have a drink!” The Rumsey Wells shop which closed its doors in 1974, is now a rather excellent pub bearing the same name and is known locally for delicious ale and pies.

08 Wild Thing

Peter the Wild Boy was a feral child found in a German forest by George I in about 1725 and kept as a curiosity by Caroline, Princess of Wales. In 1751 when his celebrity had waned he arrived in Norwich and was briefly imprisoned in the Bridewell, now the Museum of Norwich, under suspicion of being a Spanish spy.

09 Finishing Touch

The Guildhall was commissioned after King Henry IV awarded a charter to the City of Norwich giving it autonomy from the county of Norfolk. Built in 1407, the finishing touches took some time. The windows remained unglazed for forty plus years and it was not until 1453 that the glass was added.

10 The ultimate home with a view!

In the mid 20th century, Jarrolds’ caretaker Arthur James Dunham, known as Joe, lived in a bungalow on the roof of the department store, where he created a beautiful garden along with a fish pond with his wife Emily and daughters Wilfred and Olive. One of his tasks was to turn off the store’s lights at night.