Our sleuth Emma, has been seeking out some of the forgotten buildings of Norwich. A brief look into the forgotten history of some of Norwich’s most interesting buildings.
FORGOTTEN NORWICH
Sovereign House
Situated next to Anglia Square, Sovereign House has played a big role in shaping the landscape of North Norwich. Architectualy a Brutalist design of largely glass and concrete, Sovereign House was erected to house the recently relocated Her Majesty Stationary Office from London in 1968. Responsible for issuing passports, Government Reports and even the the Yellow Pages directories (remember them?) HMSO were a huge employer, providing jobs for over 800 people. The impact of this massive influx of work was great and resulted in nearly 600 houses being developed for workers and their families. Sadly, HMSO were not exempt from the growing budget cuts of the 1980s.
They managed to struggle on until eventually in 1996, the Government Office leſt Sovereign House, leaving behind a cold and empty space we know it to be today. Several plans to refurbish the dilapidated building were deployed, however, each one falling flat. Riddled with asbestos, the price estimates to fully revamp the building exceeded over £1 million, far more than what was previously thought. Sovereign House is the ultimate 'Marmite' building of Norwich. Thought of fondly
by many who remember the positive impact the site had on the local community, whilst other Norwich folk can't wait to see it demolished. Despite how we all feel, it will no doubt be flattened in the near distant future, making way for a more modern and fresh look to the North City landscape. However, as local disputes continue as to how the redevelopment should be deployed, it is unlikely that any real change will happen any time soon...
St. Andrews Hospital
Norfolk County Asylum was opened in 1815 and was one of the first buildings of its kind in England. Erected to house individuals who were crudely deemed to be "chronic lunatics, imbeciles and idiots", the site originally held 250 inmates of both sexes. By the time of its closure, the occupation of the whole facility had increased to over 1000 patients. As with most asylums across the UK, patient care was disrupted by both WW1 and
WW2 with the hospital being transformed to take care of injured soldiers, and in the case of WW2, housing refugees and civilian casualties. By the 1950's, the hospital was taken over by the NHS and with the arrival of new medications and patient therapy, inmate care was seen to greatly
improve.This continued until 1998, when the now named St Andrews Hospital eventually closed its doors for the last time. The Grade II listed buildings situated on Yarmouth Road have now been converted
into private housing. A memorial garden has also been created for the hundreds of patients and Polish refugees that were buried in the hospital cemetery. Demolition work began on the rest of the site in 2013. However, despite the arrival of St Andrews Business Park, plans to redevelop the North side of the hospital grounds halted, leaving behind the ghostly figure of the auxiliary asylum and tucked away amongst the brambles, the mortuary. Caked in graffiti and littered rubbish, the site has become increasingly unattractive and dangerous. No doubt the future for these two buildings is bleak but it is only a matter of time before new development plans are agreed upon, helping to erase an important part of Norwich and Norfolk's history.
Words & Pictures Emma Creaton 30 / DECEMBER 2019-JANUARY 2020 /
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