Travelling From Norwich to Watton in 1845

I came across this advert the other day which describes travelling from Watton to Norwich in two hours.  I find the advert quite confusing although it would appear that you travelled to Attleborough station from Watton by omnibus which was a horse drawn carriage and then presumably by train to Norwich and then by omnibus or “flies”  (a fast lightweight carriage) into the city.  The return journey is less clear but I it looks like you were transported to Trowse station by omnibus and then presumably back to Attleborough by train and then omnibus to Watton.  I did wonder whether Watton ever got a railway and it appears it did in 1869.  

History of the Bridewell

Following on from our visit, here is a summary of the history of this historic building:  

14th-Century Merchant Residence: Built around 1325 by Geoffrey de Salle and later enlarged by William Appleyard (the first Mayor of Norwich), the property is a rare architectural marvel. It features the largest brick-built undercroft in the city and one of the finest examples of exposed flintwork facades in England.

The House of Correction (1585–1828): In 1583, the City Corporation purchased the home and converted it into a Bridewell to punish vagrants, "troublesome" individuals, and local beggars. Inmates faced harsh, punishing conditions, and the mere presence of the prison was designed to strike fear into local citizens. Following a devastating fire in 1751, the building was extensively repaired.

Industrial Use (1828–1923): After the inmates were moved to a new city facility, the Bridewell was used as a leather warehouse and a boot and shoe factory before eventually closing as an industrial space.

Museum Era (1925–Present): In 1923, Sir Henry Holmes, a local shoe manufacturer, purchased the building and donated it to the City of Norwich. It opened as the Bridewell Museum in 1925. Following a massive £1.5m redevelopment, it was rebranded as the Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell, shifting its focus to showcase the city's broader social history, trades, and local communities.

Here is an article with more detail on it’s history:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_of_Norwich_at_the_Bridewell

Who Was Rumsey Wells?

There was a great deal of interesting information at The Bridewell Museum on Tuesday, some I had heard before and some gems that I hadn’t heard.  One of those gems was the story of Rumsey Wells who was an extrovert who owned a hatters on St Andrew’s Street.  So if you didn’t get to see this in the museum, here is an article about him.

https://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/article/rumsey-wells/

Old Pictures of Hunstanton

I visited Hunstanton recently and visited the excellent Heritage Centre.  The staff were very friendly, gave us free drinks and provided an overview of the history of Hunstanton.  Anyway here are some of the pictures that I took.  

Hunstanton Pier:  Hunstanton Pier was an 830-foot Victorian structure that opened on Easter Sunday in 1870. Designed by J.W. Wilson, it served as a cargo and passenger ferry landing, a steamer link to Skegness, and an entertainment hub. Following decades of fires and severe storms, the original pier was destroyed in 1978 and its remaining structures burned down in 2002:

The Bathing Pool (The Blue Lagoon):  Opened in 1928 by channel swimmer Mercedes Gleitze, it featured diving boards, water slides, and dedicated areas for learners. The pool was controversially demolished in 1967 to build a leisure dome, eventually making way for the Oasis Leisure Centre in 1984:

The Boating Lake:  Hunstanton’s popular boating lake officially opened in 1932 as part of a major extension to the resort's South Promenade. Built on land that was previously just grass and sand dunes behind Seagate Road, the lake became a central seaside attraction for decades before eventually making way for the Sea Life Aquarium:

Henry Walpole (1558 - 1595)

We have all heard of the Walpole family but have you heard of Henry Walpole?  The family name originates from the Norman conquest and was derived from the Old English words welle, meaning well, and pol, meaning pool, and refers to a pool formed by a well.  Henry was an English Jesuit martyr from Docking, Norfolk who was executed at York for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy during Elizabeth I’s reign.  Yes - atrocities occurred during her reign!  Where did he become a follower of the Jesuits?  When was he beatified and canonised?  To answer these questions and find out more please select the following article:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Walpole

Photos of Underground Norwich and the Old Prison

Here is a plan based on a 1923 map by George Skipper of the underground streets/passages in the Earlham Road area.  You may recall a bus disappeared into a sink hole in this area a few years ago - now you know why:  

 Here is a photo of the old prison:

Mannington Hall

Here is an article that I have previously sent out some years ago,  Manningtion Hall is a lovely 15th century moated house built in iron stained flint.  William Lumnor built it in 1460 but where did the oaks come from (clue: from a very influential Norfolk family of the time)?  It is the current home of the Walpole family but when did it become a Walpole home?  How many varieties of roses are in its gardens?  What scandal was the 4th Earl of Orford involved in?  To answer these questions and find out more please select the following articles:  

https://lady.co.uk/mannington-hall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannington_Hall