Howlett and White (later Norvic) Shoe Company Ltd, St Georges Plain

I led a Heritage Walk for Colin today around some of the old shoe factories in the Colegate and Fishergate area and I thought a related article would be of interest.  

A leather business originally established on site in 1846.  In 1876 Howlett and White were established.  Over the years that followed the factory on St George's expanded and in 1909 was described in the press as 'the largest boot and shoe factory under one roof in the kingdom’.

Similar to other Norwich shoe manufacturers the firm initially specialised in the production of high-quality shoes for ladies, but after WWI they recognised the need to diversify which they did by taking over firms that could fill gaps in their range namely: the Nottinghamshire-based Mansfield Shoe Company Ltd that made cheaper ladies shoes; the Northampton-based Oakeshott & Finnemore Ltd that made high-quality shoes for men.; the Norwich-based S.L. Witton Ltd that made children's shoes. In 1935 these companies were formally merged to create the Norvic Shoe Company Ltd. At the time it was the largest footwear manufacturing group in Britain.

Howlett and White escaped the bombing in WW2 and in the 1950s it remained one of the major footwear manufacturers in the country.

Despite its success the St George's factory was dated. In 1961 they met the challenge by opening a new plant called the Riverside factory in the area behind the main factory leading down to the River Wensum. Three years later they opened the modern Heathside factory on Vulcan Road (Mile Cross). 

The firm thrived in this era and it regularly generated annual profits in excess of £500,000 well into the mid-1960s. However, the cost of building new plant took its toll and in the late 1960s this once great firm ran into finanical difficulties albeit it was still employing 1500 employees.  They seemed to be weathering the storm, then in 1971 Norvic were the subject of a takeover bid by Drakes, a London-based investment group. In the years that followed many of the company's assets, including its chain of shops, were sold. By 1981 the company was in a dire position and in July of that year receivers were appointed for this once great Norwich firm.

Here is an excellent website about the Norwich Shoe Industry with a map that shows all the shoe factories and associated businesses in Norwich during the 1950s.  Please select M for the factory location and i for the related information:  

http://www.norwich-heritage.co.uk/shoe_factories/norwich_shoe_factory_map_2019.shtm

Stay healthy!

Regards

Mike

Harriet Martineau

Here is an article on Harriett Martineau.  She is a fascinating woman.  Born in Norwich in 1802 with a Unitarianism upbringing, strong minded and rebellious, never married, wrote in a very straight forward manner on such matters as; the poor having too many children that was out growing the food supply, anti-slavery, against strikes, campaigned for better working conditions for women, criticised celebrities including Dickens and Bronte, and used Mesmerism to overcome an ovarian cyst!  Please select the following link:  

https://www.thoughtco.com/harriet-martineau-3026476

Victoria Station

Last Monday I led a Heritage Walk for the Pit Stop to the old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on St Stephen’s Road.  On the way we stopped off at the site of the old Victoria Station which is now where Marsh was located.  I was never really clear on the orientation of the station until I saw the two pictures below.  The first shows the entrance to the station with the four pillars, the second photo (which is a little fuzzy) shows the station aligned at 45 degrees to Queens Road (on the left), you can see the four pillars of the entrance (towards the right) and you will note that the goods yard buildings on the left are twice the size of the passenger buildings on the right, which is why it was probably converted to a goods yard in 1916 and finally closed in 1966 although the coal yard further up the line operated until 1986.  Victoria Station was the main railway link with London from mid 19th century to 1916 before the passenger line was changed to Thorpe Station.  

Here is a map of the railway lines that fed the four Norwich stations during 1914.  This shows how the lines to Victoria and Thorpe Station were linked together bringing about the closure of passenger traffic at Victoria.  Note that Thorpe Station was originally linked to Yarmouth, Cromer and Lowestoft only.

Stay healthy!

Regards

Mike