Norwich Current Events

Current events 00 [ Unthank Road sewer trench (March 1938), Collapse of Butler and Bacon’s into river at Duke’s Palace bridge (October 1932), Telephone exchange construction (St Andrew Street May 1938), Dalek (from Dr Who TV series on Orford Hill July 1964) ]

Current events 01 [ Heavy snow in Castle gardens and St Peter Mancroft (December 1938 - heaviest since 1906) ]

Current events 02 [ Heavy snow in Somerleyton Street and Unthank Road (December 1938) ]

Current events 03 [ Air raid precautions September 1939 Guildhall (safeguarding the ancient stained glass of the Council Chamber), Chapel Field Gardens (partially constructed trenches in gardens - reopened April 1939 after having been closed since the Crisis of September 1938), Drill Hall (October 1938), Dark entry to Cathedral cloisters (September 1939) ]

Current events 04 [ Air raid precautions (1939) in the Cattle market, Guildhall Hill, All Saints Green, Wellington Lane ]

Current events 05 [ Air raid precautions (1939) at Churchman House, Cattle market, Haymarket, Guildhall ]

Current events 06 [ Air raid damage (of April 1942) Oxford Street, Somerleyton Street, Xmas tree outside City Hall (1947) ]

Current events 07 [ Hot air balloon (1979), Goodyear Europa Airship (1981), Earlham Road subsidences (of March and July 1988) ]

In various places around the city, tunnels were dug in mediaeval times to obtain flint and chalk for building purposes. Those at Earlham Road near St Giles’ Gates were rediscovered in 1823. Over the years a number of subsidences have occurred, one - on 3rd March 1988 - involving a bus. A further subsidence on 26th July affected the roadway about 200 yards west of the previous one and led to the closure of the road between Heigham Grove and the Roman Catholic Cathedral for many months.

Current events 08 [ Steam train bound for Ely (1933), Electric train (1987) ]

The first passenger-carrying electric train to arrive at Norwich (Thorpe) Station - 9th April 1987. Drawn by the locomotive “Royal Anglian Regiment”. It carried British Rail staff who had worked on the £90-million electrification programme. Official opening of the full public service took place on 11th May.

Current events 09 [ Darlow’s gun shop new Stag 1984 ]

For over a century a concrete stag surmounted Darlow’s gun shop at 8 Orford Hill, but after a fire in January 1973 it had to be removed. On 19th June 1984 a glass fibre replica was hoisted into place with the aid of a fire serives snorkel. Immediately beforehand appropriate speeches were made by the Lord Mayor (Mr Stan Peterson) and the head mistress of Blyth-Jex school (Mrs V Glauert) where the new model had been constructed.

Current events 10 [ Collapse of 14 Exchange Street (April 1991), Full-scale replica of George Stephenson’s steam locomotive “Rocket” built 1979 and based at the National Railway museum (July 1993), Thorpe station covered in polythene (June 1998), Thomas Browne statue encased in a temporary room as an “art” project (July 1998) ]

Current events 11 [ Riverside development (1997 to 1999) Holburn Tyre centre, William Morrisons supermarket, Multistorey car park ]

Current events 12 [ Bethel St library construction 1999 (evidence of Viking occupation uncovered) ]

Current events 13 [ Flying Scotsman visit to Norwich railway station (October 1999) ]

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