STUMP CROSS By Chris Weston
Norfolk is well-known for having unusual place names, some of which are pronounced quite differently to their spelling. The ‘top three’ usually quoted are Costessey (Cossey); Happisburgh (Hazeborough); and Wymondham (Windh-um) while around the county, numerous hamlets have names with no obvious but possibly hidden past connections. e.g. Three Hammer Common, nuear Neatishead. But even one part of Norwich has such a place, through which hundreds pass daily and thousands annually, knowing its name, but with no idea of its former existence!
presumably derived from the churchyard. St. Botolph - Patron saint of travellers and farming - was born in AD 610 at Thorney, near Peterborough, Cambs. He died in AD 680. The creation of Anglia Square meant numerous and often historic buildings were demolished in and around the Magdalen Street area. Amongst them were Woodruff’s Dolls Hospital and Nurseryfare, both demolished for the accompanying flyover considered at the time, to be some kind of super highway but which in reality, is no different to most other roads. One of the oldest demolished buildings was the Kings Arms public house on Botolph Street, which on its gable end were large iron characters and the letters "I" and "C" with You might recall paying a bus fare the date "1646". These are now in Before largely vanishing however, to or asking to be dropped off at one of the Norwich museums. Botolph Street was proud of two Stump Cross, but where is that and And finally, today’s Anglia Square ‘treasures’, one well-known to 19th where is the cross? Consider a site was part of the Saxon settle& 20th century Norwich folk, the journey from Tombland to Magdaother, not. The first, was its flagship ment of Northwic, defended by len Gates. At the Maids Head HoAnglo-Scandinavian defensive store which opening as a habertel, comes Wensum Street, then ditches running along the former dashery shop in 1885 and known Fye Bridge Street, followed by Botolph Street and the Anglia as the pride of Stump Cross, beMagdalen Street. But, you then Square car park. Magdalen Street temporarily leave Magdalen Street, came a Store, once with over 40 different departments. I remember and St Augustine's, both date back rejoining it a short time later. The to those times. During the 19th ‘missing bit’ is called Stump Cross, the oval shaped windows on the century, a Crape Manufactory – a which has its own fascinating past. Botolph Street side of Frank Price factory making a fabric often worn Ltd. Inside, were a wrought iron Mentioned in various sources bestaircase, parquet floor in the base- when mourning - occupied the tween 1500 & 1538, it appears to current Anglia Square site. The ment with oak panelling and the have been demolished in the late area was badly bombed during the pneumatic “railway” where money 16th century. Its cross was rebuilt Baedeker Raids in April 1942, durand receipts flew around the shop in 1640 before being removed in ing World War II and the area was through brass-coloured tubes. 1644. It was one place in Norwich, deemed suitable for post-war dewhere the accession of a new mon- Sadly by the 1960’s, it was velopment. deemed to be standing in the way arch was publicly announced. of progress and was demolished in The nearby Magdalen Street flyover opened on 12th June, 1972 and 1963, to accommodate part of the even this - together with Anglia new Anglia Square. Square - has become a rethink in Secondly, was St Botolph’s church, a Scandinavian dedication, recent years. located slightly north of Stump Cross. It was demolished in 1548, when the parish was united with St © Chris Weston, August 2021 Saviours. In 1967 human skeletal remains were uncovered during the construction of Anglia Square,
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Stump Cross was formerly at the fork with Botolph Street and was demolished in 1968 for construction of the Magdalen Street flyover.
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