KING STREET
43 King Street - 1936 K
ing Street, formerly known as Conesford Street, dates from Saxon times and was a route from Conesford Gate to the City Centre
and Tombland, then the primary marketplace. The adjacent Mountergate also supported the river-related activities: skinners worked there in Norman and medieval times, preparing hides for export via the river.
The distinguished Norfolk Worsted cloth was exported all over Europe via the Wensum, with luxury goods imported in return. It is, therefore, unsurprising that many cloth merchants, traders and wealthy families (including the Pastons and
Norwich’s Jewish history, with a synagogue and Synagogue Street formerly on the site of the brewery between Rose Lane and King Street. The Music House is the oldest surviving house in the city and was originally the 12th century hall of two prominent Jews.
During the 19th century the area was an important cog in the city’s growing brewing industry, with Morgan’s King Street Old Brewery close to Mountergate and the Crown Brewery of Young’s, Crawshaw and Young’s on the riverside, together with their associated malthouses. At the time the city was said to hold a pub for every day of the year, with twenty-six housed on King
In other industry, Boulton and Paul occupied the Rose Lane Ironworks in 1905, later to be occupied by Parmentergate Court and Community Church. This industrial area extended to Mountergate, where the Fishmarket opened on the north side in 1913. The boot and shoe factory of John Hotblack and Sons was also located there; St Faith’s House was the family home in the 1890s. Previous to its industrial activities, the Mountergate area had become a ‘pleasure garden’ in the 18th and 19th centuries.
During WW2 the area was heavily bombed, and many of the street’s historic buildings, including Dragon Hall, were damaged. With the addition
The Old Barge Inn - 1935
The Norfolk Club Facade - 1936 Howard House - 1934
the Heydons) took residence in King Street. The building now known as Dragon Hall came to prominence during this opulent era.
The area between King Street and the river was the location of the Augustine Friary, commonly known as Austin Friars, and was founded in the 13th century, eventually being dissolved in 1538 and given to the third Duke of Norfolk.
King Street also played an important role in
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Street. Renowned Norwich artist John Crome’s parents ran the Griffin Inn through the late 18th century.
In 1856 Jeremiah James Colman founded his famous factory, employing two thousand people by the end of the century. Enlightened employers and philanthropists, Colman’s created a school for workers’ children, provided an industrial nurse, subsidised meals and paid holidays for employees.
Malt House - 1935
of Rouen Road in the ‘60s, further parts of the street were demolished, leaving it almost unrecognisable.
After years of neglect the street was in a sorry state. However, the late ‘90s brought revitalisation to the area with the addition of the Riverside complex and a surge in residential development, and now the street is slowly returning to the hub it once was.
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Photos by G.A.F. Plunkett
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