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Monthly Meeting - 20th January 2010

Norwich – The Changing City

As a relative newcomer to Norwich I want to endorse what it says on the sign as we enter the city. It is indeed  “a Fine City” and as such it is a living city. The lecture on Wednesday 20th January did much to emphasise this.

Neil Storey gave us a very interesting and informative afternoon on this. His lecture entitled “Norwich – The Changing City” was enlivened by slides. We began with a shot of Richard Hearne a.k.a. Mr. Pastry standing in Elm Hill. He was a native of Norwich born in Lady Lane – a short distance from the Assembly House. Elm Hill is the last remaining Medieval Street in Norwich. In its original state it was far from picturesque, part of the damp, dirty and  in-sanitary slums that were cleared in the 1920’s and 30’s. due to pressure from the Norwich Society Elm Hill was preserved and turned into the gem it is today.

We saw pictures of the Norwich tram system, which vanished in the 1940’s. many fine old buildings fell victim to the Blitz. Today’s traffic requirements necessitated demolition of some as street were widened. This process of change and development continues, as with the improvements underway in St. Augustine’s Street. While the brutalism of some 60’s tower blocks was to be regretted, other changes were applauded.

All in all, a very good afternoon in looking both backwards and forwards in Norwich – a Fine City.  Jean Oldham.