A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Market Row
Dickens in “Household Words”,
makes mention of the Market
and Broad Rows, and an old
advertising card issued by the
Row Traders gives advice that
is worth repeating- “When in
Egypt, see the Pyramids, when
in Yarmouth see the Market and
Broad Rows!” This row is half
as wide as the Broad Row and
was open for cart traffic up until
1784. It is a busy thoroughfare
crowded with up-to-date shops.
There was a disastrous midnight
fire here in 1868, when three
lives were lost. A splendid piece
of carved work taken from the
building at the North-West corner
is now in the Tolhouse Museum,
wrote H.B. Johnson, in about 1923.
The carving was destroyed in the
Tolhouse when it was itself burned
out when bombed in the war. When
Ward Harrison’s establishment
was re-built, the row entrance was
widenened, and the building no
longer covered the row.
Notice the
very narrow
row entrance
(even though
the row was
commonly
used by carts
until 1784).
Seen from the
Market Place,
l o o k i n g
west.
In this view (top right), the Market
Place is fully cobbled.
Market Row entrance from Market Place, 21.2.07.
The East end of Market Row, from the Market Place,
26th August 2005
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The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
Above, in 1987, the ground floor of the former Johnson’s
showrooms were a sales room for Brett’s Furniture.
Looking east, about 1870.
The west end of the row had been blocked in 1784 by
an upturned cannon, and later the flagstones laid.
Carman’s Bakery, below, on the south side of Market
Row, 1987. Bevington’s chemists was a good old
fashioned one, still making up their own cough
mixtures and tonics in 1987. On the north side
we can just see the blue awning of the butcher’s
shop, and the sign of the hairdressers, “Tangle-free
Plus.” No 30, here Carman’s, had been Matthes Bakery
in 1965. Nos. 31-33 was “Olivettes Knitting Wools”
baby shop in 1965. 31 in 1987 is seen as Norfolk Video
Centre. Bevington’s shop was at no.34, W.T.Moore,
the chemist.
34
33
32
31
Note the Liberal Club on
the first, but not the ground
floor.
30
About 1920. (Brenner’s
Bazaar was listed here in
1913 + 1927)
Looking west, mid way down.
Stead and Simpson,
bootmaker, (1927)
610
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
West end, looking
west, 1987.
Marley Tile Co. in 1965. Marley tiles were the
successor to lino, being in effect Linoleum cut
into square tiles, and very popular indeed. Glued
to the floor, they are still often found attached
to concrete floors, when later floor coverings
are removed, that were easier to add on top
than remove from the floor. Marley tiles fell
from favour, and in 1987, no. 42 is seen to be
“Toggs”, a clothing shop. In 2007, tiles are sold
in warehouse stores out of the town centre, where
vast ranges of all types of flooring are on display.
Town centre DIY (“Do-It-Yourself”), hardware
and carpet shops just cannot compete with the
prices offered at these high volume warehouses.
Also, the customer expects to be able to park
outside the store, and the weight of such items is
after all, considereable. In 1784 the inhabitants
of Market Row petitioned the corporation to have
the row
blocked
to traffic. Being then one of the
wider rows, it was used by horses and carts as a
thoroughfare, a short-cut to the market, rather
than as an aid to trade in the row.
43
42
Courts Store, below, was built after 1965, not
appearing in the 1965 directory, which shows
the north side then being Bretts at nos 1 and 2.,
this building then having been nos 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, Brants, Ltd., drapers, presumably all bought
and demolished by Courts. Now in 2007, the
empty site is being filled by a more traditional
design.
41
40
Doreen Gowns occupied no. 12, south side, in 1965,
as well as no 41; here seen in 1987, still at no 41, but
also occupying no. 42, as “Doreen Fashions,” later
completely burned out in 1995. It can be seen that
architecturally, these buildings are all nothing special,
but there is no sign of the missing buildings on the
south side being rebuilt even at the end of 2007.
42
41
Numbers 41 and 42
survived the fire. Seen
above, 24.10.07.
Above, re-building,
24.10.07.
During the afternoon of Tuesday 12th September
1995, I spent a few minutes before evening surgery,
finishing a roll of film in Market Row and Row 46.
That night I slept over the surgery, being “on call”,
and little realised what had happened during the night,
only finding out on the 6’clock news the following
evening that a terrible fire had broken out in the row
that I had photographed the day before.
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The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
At 0115hrs. on 13th September 1995, a phone
call was received by the fire brigade, indicating a
fire at Courts Store in Market Row. The first fire
engine was mobilised (from Gorleston) and on
the scene by 0125. The first Yarmouth pump (fire
engine) was called
out at 0118, and in
attendance by 0122.
Sub officer Mason,
even half way to
the fire, was able
to see the flames
high in the sky,
and immediately
s u m m o n e d
a d d i t i o n a l
resources, so that
by 0159 hrs.,
15 appliances
had been sent,
including ones from
Acle, Norwich,
Wymondham and
Stalham. The whole
of Courts store was
well alight before
the brigade was
even alerted. There was no possibility of extinguishing
it. The priority then was to control the fire and to limit
its spread. Such a fire in times past would have spread
throughout much of the town. The only method of
control then would have been to demolish entire rows
away from the fire so as to break its spread. In 1666
in London, they tried such methods which failed
as they hadn’t the heavy machinery to clear whole
streets or rows that rapidly of houses. As it was,
the immense heat from inflammable materials in
the store was so great that the fire jumped across
the row to nos. 37, 38, 39, 40, and 42, despite all
the water that the modern fire pumps could throw
at the buildings. All of those buildings were gutted
and collapsed.
Fire crews remained on scene throughout the
following day, whilst smoke continued to waft
out from the shop previously known as “Hubble
Bubble”, next door to Courts Store. Fortunately
no-one was resident in any of these buildings, and
there was no loss of life. The heat was too great
during the fire to permit fire officers to enter any
of these buildings. “Hubble Bubble” was set alight
by the action of heat reflected from the buildings
on the opposite side of the row, rather than by any
direct spread.
Following the fire, the area within the row was
extremely dangerous due to the danger of further
collapse of buildings. The row was barricaded off,
with police constntly on duty to prevent access by
any member of the public. The photos were taken
during the fire by Sub officer Paul Mason.
Photo. by Paul Mason, 13.9.1995.
The damaged buildings were demolished on 9th
October, and the sites boarded up. It was not until
2007, 12 years later, that re-building has been
undertaken, using money obtained from the lottery
612
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
fund. (How long would the wait have been without the
lottery?) As at 22nd October 2007, the work was well
under way, but far from completed.
None of the buildings had been insured, and eventually
with the aid of a heritage grant, the buildings on the north
side were rebuilt from scratch. Nothing whatsoever is
being done on the south side of the row, where the site
remained in 2007, completely as when the buildings
were cleared away eleven years before, in 1996.
Left, and below, about 6.30 am.13.9.1995
(photos. by P. Mason.). Above, and below
left, reconstruction, 24.10.2007.
41
41
42
42
24.10.2007
13.9.1995
613
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
41
8
On the left is the shop
formerly known as “Hubble
Bubble”, immediately east of
Courts store, and burned out
by heat reflected back from
the buildings opposite. Very
dangerously unstable, only fit
for demolition.
40
39
37
Here the shell of Courts’ store
still stands, seen from a gantry
positioned in Stonecutter’s
Way.
38
Only the previous year, the
Norwich Library and Record
office had burned down, also
Roy’s store at Wroxham.
Smoke was still wafting from the
rubble two days later.
42
No.8 had been a listed building,
built about 1750, with its
original staircase and panelling
completely lost to the fire. It
was at first hoped to save the
front facade, but this proved
impossible. The condition of
the building was structurally
too dangerous to save.
41
40
39
38
Below, Row 46, 18th September
1995.
614
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
The two photos below were both taken from the north side, looking across Row 46.
The photos above, right, and below, I took on 14th
September 1995. Below, although the row was closed,
I was able to hold my camera above the barrier and
get this photo.
The photo below was taken on 26th February
2006, and shows the residue of buildings on
the south side of the row, stabililised with
scaffolding, and partly demolished.
615
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
North side
21.3.05
21.3.05
21.3.05
21.3.05
9
8
10
21.3.05
9 10 11 12
No.12., “Tangle Free Plus”, hairdressers, has
remained in business whilst almost all others
have come and gone, previously “Eric’s”, in
the 1970’s, still owned by him.
616
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
On 27th April 2007, with construction proceeding next
door, no.8 was now a shoe shop. Two years earlier, “Sea
Change” Gallery, was a charity establishment. The row
is seen boarded up on 26th. February, 1996. Bretts
furniture store, occupying the shop fronting Howard
Street for so many years has just been bought up by
the “Coach House Emporium”, a business that was in
Tayor’s old wooden buildings on the corner of South
Market Road, which has been in 2007, demolished
for a new Debenham’s store, all concrete and steel
(photo bottom right).
Taylor’s being rebuilt,
31.10.07
This was a poster advertising the Sea Change Gallery,
which had for a while previously occupied the ground
floor of the former Gas show rooms and antique
warehouse of Peter Howkins’, in King Street. Sea Change
also at that time put on a very unusual “extravaganza”
at the Hippodrome, with variety acts, in 1997. “Jim’s”
butchers is also seen on 21st March 2005, 10.20 am.,
the row being almost devoid of passing trade.
Taylor’s Newagents and tobacconists, Middlemarket
Road, 1987.
617
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
I have the original print out (dot matrix) sent from Wymondham Fire Station Office to Gorleston, which had
been sellotaped to a filing cabinet at the time, and presented to me by fireman Michael Hannant on 6.10.95.
It reads:
Incident 13741 Taken 01:15 13-SEP-1995
Address COURTS Stn gnd GYA Risk Cat C
MARKET ROW
GREAT YARMOUTH
Type 9 SHOP UNITS FIT
Stop received from WYM3 at 05:47 13-SEP-1995
Appliances Alrt Mob Att Stop Rtd Off Oic RD
GOR GOR4 0116 0123 0125 **** 0727 SUB O MASON 5
GYA GYA4 0118 0120 0122 0714 SUB O ABBS 5
GYA GYA5 0122 0131 0133 0920 LFF BUTCHER 4
GOR GOR1 0123 0125 0129 1033 FF ALDRED 4
GYA GYA6 0123 0126 0128 LFF RIDDEN 2
WYM WYM3 0127 0131 0202 0547 1124 FF WESTON-GARE 3
ACL ACL17 0128 0132 0142 0649 SUB O GOWAN 5
ZNO NOM1 0129 0136 0146 0647 SUB O SMITH 4
ZNO NOM2 0129 0136 0146 0648 SUB O NEWTON 6
ZCL CL11 0129 0136 0155 0647 SUB O JOLLY 4
NOR NOR6 0129 0132 0206 0610 LFF HAMMOND 2
MAR MAR1 0132 0134 0146 0850 LFF MOORE 5
STA STA17 0132 0136 0153 0620 SUB O BROOM 7
ACL BA1 0146 0150 0201 0650 FF MILWARD 2
HET HET10 0159 0207 0234 0714 LFF HARVEY 2
SPR SPR11 0201 0204 0228 0537 SUB O HARCOURT 5
HET HET47 0309 0309 0344 0848 SUB O GOODSWEN 4
GYA GYA4 0739 0739 0739 SUB O ABBS 5
LST LST17 0801 0819 0905 1031 SUB O SMITH 4
MUN MUN1 0801 0808 0855 1307 LFF PAYNE 6
GYA GYA4 0901 0901 0923 1741 SUB O DUFFY 7
GOR GOR4 1005 1005 1751
The print was transmitted to the Gorleston fire station at 17:51:49 on 13-09-95
It shows the times and places the fire engines were called from; when they arrived on the scene, and
when they were stood down. Fire appliances were sent from far and wide, “Gorleston 4” was first called,
arriving on the scene just three minutes after “Yarmouth 4”, the first arrival. Appliances came from
Wymondham, Norwich, Acle. Martham, Hethel, Sprowston, Lowestoft and Mundesley. You can see how
the first two appliances radio’d their findings at themere sight of the flames shooting into the sky. There
was a single appliance sent from Gorleston, Fire Officer Mason saw the flames from his driving seat as
he rounded the bend into Lowestoft Road. The appliance from Yarmouth was summoned; as that set off,
Sub Officer Abbs could also see the extent of the fire. The control officer at Wymonham then summoned
fourteen more appliances in the following 39 minutes, a further appliance was called from Hethel at
0309, and more from Lowestoft and Mundesley as some were stood down in the morning. The crew from
Gorleston stood down at 0727, and the same fire engine returned immediately with a fresh crew, as did the
first appliance from Yarmouth. “Gorleston 4” finally stood down at nearly 6pm the next evening, when the
police took over supervision of the site.
Key Messages
012249 Message from appliance GYA4 - MP4 HP1
012639 Message from appliance GYA4 - MP8
013116 Mesage from officer Y2 - MP10; SUB O ABBS: DEPARTMENT STORE OF 3 STOREYS
APPROX 50 M BY 20M 100% OF BUILDING WELL ALIGHT, 3 MAIN JETS, 1 HYD IN USE
015817 Message from Officer Y2 - STN OFFICER SPICER FIRE INVOLVING CLOSELY
CONNECTED 3 STOREY COMMERCIAL BUILDING < STEADY PROGRESS BEING MADE:
618
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
DIFFICULT ACCESS, 12 JETS, HP IN USE, CAN YOU MOBILISE BA VEHICLE, ALSO CIU FOR BA
WYM3 NOW CONTROL. DO COLLIER NOW IN CONTROL OF INCIDENT
020410 Message from appliance WYM3 - DO COLLIER BUILDING 30M x 20M SEVERELY
DAMAGED. FIRE SPREAD TO SURROUNDING PROPERTIES. 10 JETS. 2HP MONITORS 3 HYDS
IN USE WORKING FROM OPEN WATER
(the river)
030932 HET47 MOBILE WITH REFRESHMENTS
031334 Message from appliance WYM3 FROM DO COLLIER AREA OF EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE.
TOTAL FIRE AREA 1000SQ METRES
042716 Message from appliance WYM3
FROM DO COLLIER FIRE SURROUNDED
054737 Message from appliance WYM3
--------------------------------------------------**STOP MESSAGE**-------------------------------------------------
DO COLLIER FIRE INVOLVING 9 SHOP UNITS ON AREA OF APPROX 1000 SQ METRES 10 JETS
2HP MONITORS 3HYD AND RELAY IN USE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Photos below all taken 24th October 2007
no 12
619
Part of Abbey National Building Society premises, this entrance
previously to the upstairs “Venture” Restaurant.
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
From the air in about 1935, we can make out most
of the buildings on the north side of the Market
Place.
Howard Street
Backs warehouse, Row 46
Feathers
The Angel Hotel
Central Cinema
Palmer’s Store
Market Row
Theatre
At the end of 2008, it is now
plain to all that we are facing
perhaps the most significant economic recession ever.
This is a worldwide collapse, consequent upon the issue
of credit by banks over many years to a point that is
unsustainable. Clearly when you read these notes in
the future, you will then know the eventual outcome,
but at the moment, the British Government is unable
to make any sensible move that can be expected to
benefit us now, or those who succeed to the problem
in the future. The British public can scarcely believe
what is happening on a day to day basis, and can see
that the Government not only have no idea what to
do for the best, but are cooking up schemes that will
clearly have no benefit and can only make things much
worse in the long term. They have this week reduced
V.A.T. to 15% from 17.5%. This will cost billions
in lost revenue that will increase the national debt,
already out of control, and we know that they plan to
raise the tax substantially in a year or so. The global
financial problem is so great that a few pence saved
on VAT will never stimulate sales or industry. The
Government, under Gordon Brown, who will surely
become infamous, has already allocated billions to bail
out banks, but those banks are not using the money
to stimulate industry or businesses, rather
text continued on page 171
621
TSB
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
South side
27.4.07 (looking east).
Same view as left,
about 1875.
Numbers 25 and 26 were, in 1965, Cooper.s
Hardware and Building Supplies, 27 and 28
were then Martins, R. and T., outfitters, 29
was the bakery. Coopers in town are now on
Middlemarket Road, with their main base a
modern warehouse on Harfreys Estate, that has
21.3.05
survived well against all sorts of competition from major
chains such as “Texas”, Homebase” and “B.& Q”.
21.3.05
Some time between 1886 and 1913, Market Row was re-
numbered. In 1887, numbering was from Market Place
number one being at the south-east corner, and number
2 was opposite, being the shop at the north-east corner.
622
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Mrs Welch at no.1 in 1886, was a shoe maker, with
another shop at 59 Howard Street North. Welch’s
boot and shoe mart was also at no.22 on the south
side. Star tea co. was then at 19 on the south side,
In 1913 Brenner’s Bazaar was un-numbered at the
north east corner, seen in the photograph at the
bottom right of the second page of this chapter.
Next to Brenner’s Bazaar in 1913 was the River
Plate Meat Co. (presumably this was meat imported
from Argentina, then a British protectorate. This
business probably was interrupted and failed as a
result of the first World War. Passing eastwards up
the north side of the row, next then was Woodger’s
fish curers.
21.3.05
34/35
The Occupants,
Market Row, 1886
, from Market
Place to Howard Street,
South side:
1. Welch, Mrs., shoemaker
2. Bond, G., stationer etc., office of the Yarmouth
and Gorleston Times
5. Cooper, A.S., ironmonger
7. Littlewood B.L., tailor and hatter
33
31
32
30
21.3.05
32
33
21.3.05
No. 32, left, “The Town Jeweller”, 33 “Mark’s
Pantry”, 34. Tilly’s Gowns and dressmaker’s
shop.
(1886 cont.)
9. Martins, R & T., tailors and hosiers
11. Goodrick, G.J., shoe mart
13. Lamb, Mrs., toy shop
15. Turner, O., confectioner
17. Lamb C.K., jeweller and silversmith
19. Branch establishment of the Star Tea Co.
21. Sayer, outfitter
23. Bulwer, E.T., woollen draper
25. Davy, R., draper and haberdasher
27. Palk, W., glass and china dealer
29. Hunt, J.E., draper
31. Olley, T.L., tailor
33. Daniels, A., fruiterer and seedsman
Franklin, Dr.L.H., dispensary
30
31
32
623
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
Henry Swinden’s Plan of Market Row 1758
16. Blagg, H.A., tobacconist
18. Blagg, H.A., grocer and provision dealer
20. Dane G.W., draper
22. Welch’s boot and shoe mart
24. Cross, Mrs., baby linen warehouse
26. Bond, G., book seller, stationer and fancy dealer
28. Knopp and son, boot & shoe warehouse
30. Woolmer, S., fancy repository
32. Robson, C.H., fancy bazaar
34.Carr., G., millinery warehouse (moved to 133 King
Street?)
36. Woodger, J., and sons, herring curers
38. Lay, J.H., carpet warehouse
Market Place
Angel Hotel
Yard
(1886 cont.)
35. Denton, F., boot warehouse
37. Mason, H.H., ironmonger and gas fitter
North Side
2. Pash, A., Eagle boot stores
4. Evison, J., tea merchant (and Lowestoft)
6. Littlewood, B.L., draper
8.-10. Minister, E.A., confectioner
12.-14. Huke, A. & W., booksellers and printers
(works, Rows 53 and 55)
Market Row 1913
, from Market Place to Howard Street
North.
North Side
:
London Dental Institute
Hepworth, G., and sons Ltd., hosiers
Reade, Wm., china and glass dealer
Hunt, John Lee, draper
Alderson Brothers, boot makers
16. Pike, Henry and son, tobacconist
16a & 18, Blagg, Henry Adolphus, grocer
20a. Ledsham, Charles, optician
Premium Trading Stamp Co.
24. Kerridge and Wardley, corset manufacturers
Duffell, Mrs, Emily, confectioner
Stead and Simpson Ltd., boot manufacturers
Johnson, Frank, Hosier
21.& 22. Carr, George Walter linen draper
20. Woodger, J. and sons Ltd., fish curers
19. River Plate fresh meat Co. Ltd.
Brenner, M., bazaar
South side
Woodward, Boothby, confectioner
17. Cammell and Co., bazaar
Pearks Ltd., grocers
Colbeck, J., hosier
29. Williams and Co. Ltd., fancy goods dealers
25. Harris, Henry, furrier
23. Fielding, T. & Co. Ltd., cycle dealers
Sayer, Wm. Clements, clothier
Wixley, William, jeweller
Turner, Obadiah, confectioner
624
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
21.3.05
34/35
21.3.05
No.40., the barber’s shop seen in business above, and
above right. This was part of “Doreen Fashions”, saved
by the firemen, although severely damaged, able to be
saved from demolition.
(1913 cont.)
Turner, Obadiah, dining rooms
11. Goodrick, George James, boot maker
9. Star Tea Co. Ltd.
(probably now no 40.)
Martins, R. & T., tailors, hosiers and outfitters
Chatten, Miss Edith H., music seller
3. Bond O.P., toy and fancy repos. (S-W corner)
It can certainly be seen, above, why the street needed
re-numbering, the whole list was in such a mess
that it is hard to understand how it ever got to be so
muddled. Some sequences are all out of order, and
in other places there were no numbers at all. There
probably had been many arguments as to what the
number should have been whenever a shop changed
hands, and then the new owner used whatever number
appeared to be spare, even if it was completely out
of sequence. Such an arrangement could only get
progressively worse!
19.2.07
19.2.07
19.2.07
625
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
1906 1772
1985
4
3
2
37
38
43
1
35
(West end)
33
36
34
32
30
42
41
31
40
29
39
3 to 7
27
28
38
25
26
24
22
20
18
16
37
23
8
36
21
9
10
35
19
34
11
12
17
33
32
31
30
13
12-14
13
14
11
8-10
15
16
Y e l l o w
lines denote
buildings
destroyed
by fire,
13.9.1995.
9
29
6
17
18
19
7
28
5
4
27
2
1
2
26
At the time of the
fire, 40 and 41
were “Glisters”;
20
25
21
39.Greenacres
butchers (see
market Place)
numbered here as per
1886, numbering then
became increasingly
haphazard
33
31
29
MarketPlace
(East end)
37& 38. “Carpet
Lazers”
Market Row, 1927
, from Market Place to Howard
Street South, North side:
22. Skipper, W., dentist
19. Reade, William, China dealer
17 and 18. Hunt, John Lee, draper
16. Barratt, W., & Co. Ltd., boot makers
15. Pike, Henry and son, tobacconists
14. Carr, Geo. Walter, draper
13. Kays Stores, grocers
12. Duffell, E., confectioner
11. Stewart and Pallister, clothiers
9. Kerridge and Wardley, corset manufacturers
8. Sears, J., & Co., True form Boot Co. Ltd
4, 5, 6, & 7. Carr, Geo. Walter, draper*
3. Woodger, J. and sons Ltd., fish curers
2. British and Argentine Meat Co. Ltd.
1. Brenners Bazaar
South side:
43. Brett J., and sons, house furnishers
42. Carr, George Walter, draper*
41. Cammell and Co., jewellers
40. Pearks Dairies Ltd., grocers
39. Yarmouth Drapery Stores (Arthurs Ltd.)
38. Wain, W. & son, butchers
37. Dashwood, Charles, restaurant
36. Woods, L.A., tobacconist
626
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
36. Breeze, Mrs. I.N.
35. Fieldings Ltd., Cycle dealers
34. Stead and Simpson, boot makers
33. Star Tea Co., Ltd.
32. May, Chas and Co., jewellers
30. & 31. Turner, O., restaurant
29. Singer Sewing Machine Co. Ltd.
27 & 28. Martins, R. & T., outfitters
26. Chatten, Miss Edith H., music seller
25. Bond, Owen Paul, fancy repos.
24. International Tea Co. Store
24. General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Co.
(Stanley A.Lewis, resident inspector)
24. Hanlon, William
24. Slater, Albert Edward
*George Carr born in Fakenham,25th September 1829,
died at Yarmouth 15th Feb. 1919, having another shop
at 133 King Street, if this is the same George Carr.
Carr’s shop in King street was rented by Skippings
from 1908, and thus sold to Skippings upon Carr’s
death. It seems likely that the family carried on what
was evidently a very successful business in Market
Row, under the same name (see also 133 and 150 King
Street). (notes of P.G.T.)
All of the new shops in this new build (above) replacing
Courts burned out furniture store, are empty as on 3rd
December 2008.
The opposite side of the row is just as empty, but no sign of of rebuilding. Nature has taken over.
627
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
The Occupants, Market Row, 1938
33. Star tea Co., Ltd.
(from 30 Market Place to 1.Howard Street South)
32. Harvey, Mrs.Olive, draper
north side (east end)
31. Dagnall, G., drug store
20. Hepworth and Co. Ltd., tailors
30. Matthes Ltd., bakers
19. Catlings Ltd., drapers
29a. Read, Edward T. Ltd., wool stores
17. Pradium Amusements Ltd., fancy goods
dealers
29. Singer sewing machine Co., Limited
27. and 28. Martins, R.. and T., outfitters
16. Barratt, W. and Co. Ltd., boot makers
26. Chatton, Miss Edith H., music seller
15. Pike, Henry and son, tobacconists
25. Tabraham, Albert Ward, ironmonger
14. Worms, Harry, draper
24. International Tea Co.’s Stores Limited
13. Norma, gowns
24. General Accident Fire and Life Assurance
Corporation Ltd. (Percy James Thrower,
resident inspector)
13a., Baldwin & Turner, ladies
hairdressers
12. Lummis, Charles,
confectioners
24. Hanlon, William (east end)
Finished replacement of
Court’s site, 23.08.08
11. Brants, Ltd., drapers
9. Kingston, C., Ltd., butchers
8. Sears, J., and Co., (true form
Boot Co.) Ltd., boot stores
3 to 7 & 11 & 39. Brants Ltd.,
drapers
1 & 2. Peacocks Stores Ltd.,
domestic Stores (west end)
south side (west end)
43. Brett, F. & son Ltd., house
furnishers
42. Knowles, L., provision merchant
41. Cammell and Co. jewellers
40. Pearkes’ Dairies Ltd., grocers
39. & 7 to 3 & 11. Brants Ltd.,
drapers
38. Wain W. and sons, pork butchers
37. Easiephit Shoe Co.
35. Fieldings Limited, cycle dealers
34. Stead and Simpson Ltd., boot
makers
628
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Above, all four photos, 25.08.2008
629
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
BROAD ROW
This row was so known in Palmer’s time, but
Broad Row was also referred to by Harry Johnson
as Kingston House Row
Harry noted that “Records exist and old property
deeds relate to the old Kingston House Row, dating
back to 1295. Formerly there existed many fine
houses there, and today this is a popular shopping
centre, containing a variety of shops and proving an
invaluable asset. It has easy access to the bridge and
Southtown. In 1858 a riot occurred here between
two regiments quartered in the town.”
Old Broad Row leads from George Street to
Charlotte Street. It was called in ancient writings
“Le Broade Row” on account of its comparative
width. When a new Broad Row was formed in the
south part of the town (now called Queen Street),
the row was then called “old”. It was also called
Kingston House Row, as mentioned in the sessions
roll of 1295. In 1341 Robert Mogge of Martham and
Margaret his wife conveyed to Sir William Grey,
chaplain, premises on the south side of a common
lane called “Kyngestone House Row”. Thomas
Meadowe Esq., father of Sir Thomas Meadowe,
had a house in “The Brode Row”, which he devised
to Thomasyne, his wife. When filling the office of
Bailiff in 1638, he entertained Dr. Montague, new
Bishop of Norwich.
The houses 2 and 3 on the south side were the
property of the Bransby family. In 1669 Thomas
Bransby sold his house in Kingston Row to Edmund
Smith, mariner. On the 8th. January 1735
the Old Broad Row was impassable after a
rainstorm. In 1782 the house of Mr. Barker
was burned to the ground.
Broad Row, west end, about 1870
below, tower behind Plattens, painted by Pocock.
On the south side there was a very old house
with a cut flint front, which was pulled down
in 1867. In the row in the 18th. Century, lived
Samuel Kittridge the printer and bookseller.
He was author of “The Theological Quack,
or Falsehood Detected”. He died in 1780,
although his wife had predeceased him in
1764, and there was a tablet to her memory
in the Baptist Chapel.
The houses at the north-east corner of the row
were in the 17th. Century, in possession of a
family named Wilcock. They are described
then as abutting north upon houses which then
and still are (in Palmer’s time), the property of
the church. In 1652, John Wilcock was ordered
to remove a gallery and post which he had
set up at the east end of his house in Broad
Row. Several other families are mentioned
as living in this row in the earlier centuries
by Palmer, and in the 18th.Century, Richard
Chichely, stationer had his shop here, as did
630
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
BroadRow
afterwards, Mr. Keymer, the printer. To
the north of, and adjoining the last house
on the north side of Broad Row, there
are seven houses and shops facing west
on Charlotte Street (Howard Street),
which belong to the Parish Church. There
is here mention of the early English
Guilds, and also of the Society of Friends
(Quakers), established in Yarmouth in
1766. (Palmer’s Perlustration., Vol. I.,
p. 276.)
asper
1772
BroadRow
The Row survey simply says that the
Broad Row was not thought to be
threatened. This once again emphasises
that the threat to the rows was very much
present before the Luftwaffe ever came
on the scene.
map
Row50
tower
BroadRow
once
another
Rowhere
The tower, photo by P.G.T., 1971.
asper
190
map
21st.
March
2005
Row50
Newark's
Passage
The merchant’s tower
Cruck
built
house
No 26., now missing. See in the
photos above and below, how the
arched windows disappeared from
Match’s frontage when downgraded
to “Revive”.
BroadRow
Platten's
28th
Feb.
2007
asper
198
map
Whitefriar'sCourt
631
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
From the East End, the north side:
n 2007, a rather unattractive piece of ironwork
announces “The Rows”. This, being placed at the
east end of Broad Row, firstly obstructs the view
for the photographer, and secondly, as the visitor
has already passed down Market Row to get here
(most likely) it is completely superfluous when
placed at this point.
The Occupants, Broad Row, 1938
(from 55 George Street to 84 Howard Street North)
North side
1.Middleton’s Ltd., booksellers
2. Boots the chemist
3,4,5,6,7, & 8. Plattens Ltd., drapers
9. Lambert, F., and son Ltd., tea dealers
10. Sennitt E.C. (Norwich) Ltd.,provision
dealers
11. Home and Colonial Stores Ltd.
11a. Bayne, William, jeweller
12a. Watson, Donald, electrical engineer
12. Bingham, Thomas Frederick, chemist
13. Maypole Dairy Co.Ltd.
14. Lipton, Limited, grocers
15. Stead and Simpson, Ltd.,
bootmakers
21.3.05 (left). No 15 at NE corner.
28.2.07
14
21.3.05
13
14
Visionhire,
no.14 in 1965
Stead and Simpson bootmakers
in 1965 at no.15, later moved to
King Street, now a cafe (2008).
632
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
24.10.07
Occupants, Broad Row, 1965
from George Street to 84 Howard
Street south
North side
1. Middleton’s booksellers
2. Boots The Chemists
3-8 and 26-28. Plattens Ltd.,
department store
9, 10. Yarmouth Surplus Trading
Co., surplus goods dealers
11a. Engledow and Gallant,
watchmakers & jewellers
12. Norfolk Radio Service Co.
Ltd.
13. Visionhire (Gt Britain) Ltd.
television rental
14. Yarmouth Surplus Trading Co.
surplus goods dealers
15. Stead and Simpson Ltd.,
bootmakers
No.11, left, boarded up in
2007, was occupied as a
jewellers in 1965, hence the
bars on the door window.
11
24.10.07
633
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
Above, 25th August 2008, no.3 occupied, but not
profitably, un-named, selling cheap carpet remnants.
Above, no.3 Broad Row in 1995. This is when the
cruck frame was discovered. Below, the same building
looking very Georgian, empty, 1997.
19th February, 2007, no.4, “Open Door”, selling low
quality second hand furniture. (3 and 4 both part of
Plattens stores for many years previous).
4
5
6
7
8
3
19th February, 2007, empty, no.3, looks smart, but
business in this row is now almost impossible.
Left, at no.2, Saulius Akucevicius Estate Agency, (seen
here Feb. 2007) remains in business in August 2008,
opposite another foriegn Language estate agency opposite
(see page x.)
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A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
4
2
3
5
21.03.2005
6
Plattens Store
The most prominent business
in the row for many years was surely been that
initially set up by Thomas Platten in 1871,
although apparently he had started at first in
partnership with Tom Green. In 1874 Platten
had a business at 21 King Street, and opened
the premises in Broad Row at no.5 by 1896.
Two sons, George and Thomas Platten, were in
the business in 1900, and the premises by then
included no. 6 Broad Row. Geoffrey Platten,
son of George, born 1901, joined the business in
1916, and his brother Richard in 1920, by then
the business had expanded to take in the shops
at nos. 3, 4, and 7. The firm, one of the first with
electric lights, and trading in all sorts of goods,
furnishings hardware, garden accessories and the
like, as well as clothing of all sorts, was in 1992
managed by Richard Platten, great-grandson of
the founder. All the local school uniforms were
sold here, but the out of town supermarkets took
over even that trade and general clothing, with
shocking, if predictable results.
The tower behind Plattens, 1995.
(rear of no.3)
21st March 2005, Nos. 6. 7. 8., formerly part of Plattens stores, now closed.
(Plattens: Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.)
635
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
Here (left) the former Plattens Store is in use as a book
store, and repainted from yellow to purple (see previous
page)
Below, this newspaper advertisement was inserted on 21st
February 1984.
24.10.07
7
6
5
24.10.07
The house numbered 3, near to the southwest corner
of this row has very
rare cruck-built frame
.
Conventional wisdom is that cruck building has never
been used in this part of the country. Tom Williamson
the architectural historian at UEA (appointed professor,
2007) was adamant on this point, when I discussed it
in 1995, but the cruck built house in Broad
Row has a cruck that runs at least half way
down the walls and is the substantial frame of
the house. There are other instances of cruck
framed roofs in Yarmouth at 25 South Quay
and George Street. Those are only small
roof crucks, but there may well have been
other cruck built houses in former times.
The cruck in the walls at Broad Row would
never have come to light if it were not for
serious fire damage to the house. The cruck
itself is though very substantial and remained
undamaged. Cruck construction is an early
medieval method of building. There are two
timbers used as bent uprights at each gable
end, fixed together at the apex of the roof, to
which all other timbers are connected. In full
cruck framed houses these timbers rise from the ground
to the apex of the roof. Such a method of construction
was supposed to be confined entirely to the centre and
west of England, for unknown reasons.
636
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
21.3.05
4
3
2
27th April 2007, a false ceiling being inserted at no.3.
Inside no.4, 27th April 2007
The cruck is a type of roof where a
deliberately bent tree is split down the
middle, and the two halves joined at the
top so as to provide an arch to the roof.
The top carries the ridge beam, but the
tips of the cruck blades can be joined in
various ways - butted, crossed, halved,
housed or yoked. The “full” cruck has
the same timber running to ao near to the
ground, all the way from the roof. In the
case of this house, the original ground
floor is now the cellar, as with all the
oldest houses in the town. The blade of
the cruck disappeared within the wall
somewhere at first floor level, and it is
impossible to say how near to any ground
level it reached. It seems certain to have
been built as a “raised cruck that was
always well above ground level. See N. W.
Alcock A Catalogue of Cruck Buildings,
for distribution maps of the various types
of cruck building.
17th March 1995
The blade of the cruck with signs
of superficial fire damage.
637
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
In 1995 I was able to take these photos
and show them in a seminar at UEA
to Professor Tom Williamson, now
Professor of landscape archaeology,
who was singularly unimpressed!
17th March 1995
It was fortunate indeed that
I had my attention drawn to
this building whilst it was
being rebuilt after a fire. In
2008 it is quite impossible
to see or realise that the
build had exposed all the
old timbers as we see in
the photos on this page.
They had been covered up
for some 4-5 centuries, and
may now be covered again
for several more. I was
advised to take a look by
a visiting expert who was
revising the list of local
“Listed” buildings. At that
time I had no idea that I
638
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
17th March 1995
would in the space of two
more years own one of the
finest “listed” buildings in
the town at 43 King Street,
with origins in the 17th
century. Likewise, I had not
the opportunity to see inside
the virtually untouched
17th century house of John
Bailiff the water Bailiff, 16-
17 Northgate Street. The
properties are described in
later volumes. The latter
missed inclusion in volume
one, and will be included in
Volume 4.
3
4
No.2
19th February, 2007, no. 2 Broad Row, was Boots the Chemist’s shop in 1938, Martins newsagent in
1987, and internet cafe and estate agents in 2008, as above.. Rebuilding no.3 in 1995 was extensive
and discovered the cruck frame (built around 1500).
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The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
20th December 1987
20th December 1987
20.12.1987
11
10
10
11
20.12.1987
Above, and detail below, Plattens
was very much in business in
1987, but next door no 10 was
even then, empty, and no.11 was
boarded up. Eighteen years later,
the paint colours have reversed
and we can see into the windows
of no.11, but it might as well
be still boarded up. Gordon
Edwards’ bookmakers were
at no. 1 in 1987 - see George
Street.
21.3.05
2
1
Broad Row, summer 1987, trade - good.
Plattens, 20.12.1987
640
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Broad Row, south side
The Occupants 1938
south side
16. Bradleys (Chester) Ltd., clothiers
17&18. Blyth R.J., tobacconist
19. Green, Charles, outfitter
20. Dewhurst, J.H., Ltd., butchers
21. Wright J.G., Baker
22. Norton, Bros., tobacconists
23. Margaret (Miss M.Mc Queen, proprietress) ladies’
hairdresser
24. Fifty Shilling Tailors (Price’s Tailors Ltd.,
proprs.)
25. Knapps, outfitters
26. Plattens Ltd., drapers
27. & 28. Allen, Alfred Vernon, toy dealer
29. Middletons Limited, stationers
30. Rowland Hy. E. greengrocer
The Occupants, 1965
South side
17 & 18. Norton Bros tobacconists Ltd.
19. Green B. Hart, draper
20. Dewhurst J.H. Ltd., butchers
21. Smith Bros., (Norwich) Ltd., bakers
22. Meads Restaurant
23. Hak Lilian, ladies outfitters
24. Allen C.H., music dealer
25. Broughall W.H., Ltd., boot repairers
26-28 & 3-8. Plattens Ltd., department store
29. Littlewood, William, electrical contractor, &
repairs
30. Rowland, Jack, fishmonger
30c, Bargain mart, second hand dealers
25.8.08.
As we look at the photos, we see that Hippo’s in 1987, once the tobacconists, has become “Match”, and now
“Revive”, all clothing shops, but steadily going down-market. At no. 19., the butchers shop was by 1987,
“Strands” hairdressers, remaining a high class shop, as “Saks”, hairdressers, in 2007.
641
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
December
1987
21
22
20
19
18
21st February 2007
Above, the hanging shop sign,
now “Saks”, has not changed,
except in name. The 1987 litter
bins have been removed by
the council, and the Victorian
replica lamp standards erected.
Fortunately, the buildings
themselves have not been
demolished or burned down.
The three bottom photos dated
24.10.07.
642
20
21
22
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Text below, continued from page 149:
towards home mortgage interest payments.
they are paying themselves, their staff, and remaining
solvent a little longer. Stocks and shares are declining
in value daily, as is property or “real estate”. All goods
will decline in value in deflation, and the money itself
is becoming worthless at the same time. The pound may
yet go to half its current value, and that will no doubt be
catastrophic in the short run. In the long run it can mean
that we could become a successful manufacturing and
exporting country again, but there needs to be massive
investment in new factories, and the Government has
not woken up to that yet.,.. Money has been entirely
secured against property or “real estate” world wide, and
now that property values are slumping, there is no basis
or equity to that money. The pound is rapidly losing its
value, and we are into a deflationary spiral. Decreasing
interest rates may force banks to lend more in order
to maintain profits, but many loans have fixed rates,
and many banks and institutions are not passing on the
rate cuts to the custmer and to businesses, so more and
more will be bankrupt. Shopping streets such as Broad
Row, which are already closed up due to out of town
shopping policies of the local planning department, are
doomed to remain that way for many years to come.
Instead of propping up banks and insolvent institutions,
direct investment in manufacturing and infrastructure
is needed, with consequent new jobs. Instead the
Government is throwing our money away, which will be
next to impossible to recover. The Government
seems to think that if they can stall for time, then
miraculously all will correct itself, simply on
the basis that it has always done so before. This
time is different though, since there is no reason
why, in a deflationary situation, property will
become more valuable, instead, it will become
less so. As a result, many people will be out of
work. Those taxpayers remaining (in work) will
have to pay them for remaining idle, as well as
(having to) finance the national debt, as well
as fund the bulge in pensions for the “baby
boomer” generation. It looks as though we are
in for at least twenty years of a deep depression
this time, that can only be recovered from if the
workforce is prepared to actually work, and to
produce more in this country than we consume.
The chances of that happening within even
twenty years seems extremely slim. This crisis
would have happened in the seventies, but for
the discovery of North Sea oil and gas. We do
not have that lucky strike to save us this time
(written 2.12.2008).
In the USA today the governor of the state of Michigan,
Jennifer Granholm, has said that the US government
must act within a week if the US car industry is to be
saved. The problem is though, that the cars are outmoded,
and the public don’t want them any more since they are
heavy on fuel At the same time the American public
does not have the money or credit to buy the cars, so
even if the GM, Ford and Chrysler plants which are
all based in the state of Michigan, are saved, it looks
as though that again can only be a temporary stay of
execution. Reading this in the future you will know if
my predictions are correct or not, but it seems to me
that the moves by both the US and British Governments
are in no way going to prevent a severe and prolonged
depression. This country and the US would have to be
able to manufacture and produce goods and food without
being almost entirely dependant upon imports from the
far east. This current trade imbalance has developed
over some forty years, and may take at least as long
to correct. The result will be that neither nation can
expect to remain dominant in world affairs for very
much longer. Many aboroad will welcome such change
and will do little to help us out in our difficulties even
if they have the means to do so.
Photo dated 25th August 2008.
In the Queen’s speech on opening Parliament,
3rd December 2008, the Government has offered
help to stop repossions of homes, which are
expected to top 75,000 during 2009. This is to
be a deferment of interest on payments, but it is
unclear as to who will qualify, and it may only
stave off the problem, if new jobs are not created.
1.5 billion of taxpayers money is to be allocated
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The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
26.9.2007
24.10.07,
amazingly
changed one
month later
from view on
left.
26.9.07
28th February
2007, below
22
23
20
21
28th Feb.
2007
26.9.07
24
25
26
24.10.07
22
23
Whitefriars Court (see Row 3)
27th April. 07, remains the same
as now (four pages earlier).
26.9.07
N0.24
24
25
24.10.07
644
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
Allen’s shop, 6.10.74, photo P.G.Trett, was at no. 24
Broad Row.
well. In due course, electric guitars became
fashionable, and organs a speciality. Guitars
as made famous by the “Shadows”: Allens
sold Gibsons, Les Pauls, Stratocasters and
Telecasters. Now Allens sell Lowry organs.
Yamaha became the main franchise for organs
in the 1970’s. Many were second hand and sold
widely. John Allen continued to work for his
father, but Jill went quite soon into hairdressing.
She worked in Palmer’s Hairdressing salon, and
there met the manager, Cornelius Alexander
Dumonte Curtin. He, as an entrepreneurial
businessman, was able to take up the challenge
of developing Allens Music shop into a much
larger business, and moved the premises to the
upper section of the “Market Gates” complex,
able to succeed where other businesses have
failed. They now are located on the lower level
of “Market Gates”, opposite the bus station, and
have an overseas interest. “Con” and Jill have
one child, a daughter, Lucy, who also assists in
the business. During the ‘70’s there were also
shops at Lowestoft and Banbury.
Charles Allen and his wife Eleanor, moved to Great
Yarmouth from Wales, and set up shop in Northgate Street.
He was no musician, but could demonstrate a piano with a
few bars of Tchaikovski that he had learned by heart. His
wife worked in the shop, and they moved to premises in
Broad Row, where trade was then quite brisk. They had two
children, Jill and John. John, the elder of the two, acted as
removal man for the heavy istruments, organs and pianos.
Charles French polished second hand instruments, and did
renovation work. He was an expert tuner also, so could
make a good profit from an old piano. They sold all sorts of
other instruments, especially harmonicas, violins, accoustic
guitars, flutes and clarinets. Affordable instruments sold
645
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
About 1880,
the street
lamps were
a somewhat
different
design, it
would have
been good to
have replicated
these.
27
28
24th October
2007, south-
west end, this
shop empty,
advertised
as “Recently
Refurbished”.
26
24
25
“Hot food
option meal
available”
below. Art
Gallery at
no 28.
26, 27
28
Formerly, Plattens,
for sale
29
30
29
30
Above, from south-west
corner,19th February 2007
These bins were present
in the 1990’s, right
646
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
20
Immigrant workers photographed
in King Street 7.7.07 (photo by
Christian Warren),
21
23
22
24
22
23
29
Photo. bottom left, dated 25th August 2008. At this date
there are two foreign language property letting agents in
Broad Row. There are at this date two directly opposite.
There is another in King Street. This is a reflection upon
the substantial influx of foreign migrant labour during the
years 2003-8. This is entirely legal, from the EEC, Portugal
and Poland. Others come from Lithuania and from even as
far as Brazil. These people are in fact an asset to central
Yarmouth at this time, since they are here to work, and
wages though low, are still at least double that in their own
countries. In Croatia, a couple in full time employment can
only achieve around £5000 per annum. Food there and most
goods are around 30% of UK prices. Most people there walk
or cycle to work. Car ownership is low. These people find
central Yarmouth an attractive option for the moment, but
have no intention of staying more than a couple of years
or so. Meantime they actually save money from what we
consider poor and unattractive jobs in such as the chicken
farming industry and book packing factories, which provide
free transport for their workers. (Photos. of immigrant girl
above right by Christian Warren, 7.7.07.)
28
647
The Revised History of Great Yarmouth Volume Two
27
28
29
27
30
28
29
“Basket Case” shop front
much improved since the
1990’s, unlike “Saks”
which suddenly became
plain fronted, see previous
page.
Number 26, part
of Plattens store
in 1965, closed
some four years
or so ago, being
used as a very
impoverished
furniture sales
depot. 26.9.07
648
A New Perlustration of Great Yarmouth
24.10.07
developing out of town shopping. Huge numbers
of people that live in the suburbs of Yarmouth
commute by car daily to work in Norwich. Those
people shop either out of town in the “superstores”
or shop at Norwich, whilst the town centre here is
in a state of gross neglect. This is because everyone
wants to be able to park very close to the shops they
use, but mainly because the stores themselves have
beeen allowed to relocate to huge out of town sales
warehouses. This is a disaster in town planning. This
could have been avoided by really creative planning,
and could still be tackled. Unfortunately we have
now left this almost beyond the point of no return.
The stores that could have been located centrally are
now at the end of 2008 going to face a long period
of recession, since the big banks have lent too much
money that cannot be repaid, affecting the housing
market and particularly due to widespread over-
valuation of domestic and “Buy-to-let” property,
largely in the London area, and elsewhere.
We have seen in Broad Row the complete collapse of
in town shopping during the period 1987-2007. This
is due to factors evident much wider afield than just
in Yarmouth, but which have been magnified by poor
planning decisions over many years. Elsewhere, in
Norwich, there has been a town centre shopping boom,
with many millions of pounds poured into city centre
development. Much money was expended in Yarmouth
It is unlikely that anything can be done to rectify this
situation in the short term, but a long term plan is
needed that can turn things around in twenty years, if
the right policies are formulated and adhered to.
Fortunately a large regeneration grant was obtained
that allowed rebuilding of the northwest section
of Market Row, and the former Liberal Club/
Bretts/Johnsons on the corner of Howard Street.
The buildings at 55/56 North Quay have also been
rebuilt with grant aid. This improves those buildings,
but does little for the local economy. Many other
sites remain in a shocking state. Because the local
economy is so impoverished, there is no value that
can be tapped by individual investors. The Market
Gates Complex is being substantially extended and
improved in 2008, but these investments will not
reverse the decline in the town centre.
26.10.07
The whole of Broad Row now needs to be acquired
and developed in one whole, linked to an extensive
underground car park and new shops in Howard
Street. If the car park behind Palmers store, on
Howard Street were placed underground on several
levels, new shops could be built fronting onto
Howard Street. If this had been Tesco’s store site
instead of allowing Tesco and Asda and so on to
move out of town, then the development could have
been kept central. Other leading stores need now
to be given free rentals of such space to get them
into the town centre. \this is what has been done to
“kick-start” new shopping areas in Norwich. New
high quality shopping in Howard Street would
attract other investment to redevelop Broad Row.
Those buildings should retain old style facades, and
the interiors gutted out and rebuilt. Conceivably
Broad Row could be roofed over, linked to the new
car park, and filled with high quality retail outlets.
The other area ripe for redevelopment we will see,
is Middlegate and King Street.
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