York Alley, Norwich by Chris Weston

By Chris Weston

All around Norwich’s city centre and in other parts of Norfolk, are numerous wallmounted plaques in various colours, placed on buildings. Between them, these blue, green, or occasionally red discs “remember” historic events dating back in time, famous people noted for deeds or inventions and more. Also, around the city centre area, are numerous short passages variously named Alley; Court; Opening; Passage; Thoroughfare; Yard or Way.

The plaques sometimes indicate former streets, since renamed. Two examples are Cockey Lane (now London Street) and Wymer Street (St. Andrew’s Street). Consultation with old city maps will reveal dozens more. In the 16th century, today’s White Lion Street was known as 'Castledyck Lane'. At that time, it led from the current Red Lion Street / Orford Place area to the Castle Ditches (now Castle Meadow). In more recent times, have come a new breed of oblong black & white plaques, briefly detailing a street’s history, one of which describes York Alley. This is possibly used by most people as a short cut between the Primark store and former Bell Hotel! The street layout here dramatically changed in 1899, when Clarke’s Ironmongers previously adjoining the Bell Hotel and blocking access beyond Orford Place was demolished, to allow trams to reach Castle Meadow. The name-change to York Alley came from a nearby public house, the York Tavern which opened in the late 18th century and traded until closure on 16th April 1964. The first recorded Licensee was John Youngs (1805-1812) but the property is thought to date back to the 1700’s and was known by earlier names. The building still stands today and is now used for a different type of retail. But at one point in its history, the York Tavern served as the York Hotel. At the end and so behind the Tavern / Hotel, the alley emerges into White Lion Street, alongside No. 22. On 17th June 1902, this property was the Criterion Cafe where

on that date, a meeting was held, and Norwich City Football Club was founded. And finally, as a more recent indicator, you may recall a once wellknown wine shop at the Bell Hotel end of York Alley, called Peter Dominic at No. 2 Castle Meadow. This had earlier been the York Tavern and for a time, one of the city’s branches of Sketchley’s Dry Cleaners, later acquired by Messrs. Johnsons.

© Chris Weston, October 2022

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LinkedIn: Tracey De-Abreu It is so lovely and exciting to see our Twinning friends again from La Pommeraye and Montjean-surLoire, some very well known to us and some friendly new faces this year too and what an excellent time we had on all our visits and excursions, with blue skies and sunshine to boot. We have had very good feedback from guests and hosts alike, who all enjoyed the Neatishead Radar Museum, the Stalham Museum of the Broads, the Ceilidh at Neatishead Victory Hall, St George’s Whisky Distillery and Bressingham Steam Museum and Gardens: many thanks to the committee members who helped to organise these and the guides, translators etc on the tours. We’re now looking forward to our return visit next year with lots of members eager to sign up already and many ideas and suggestions for our excursions in the lovely Loire Valley. Before then, we can hopefully have some social events for our members, maybe one of our popular quiz and supper evenings, our AGM, of course, which is usually more of a get together with Loire wine from our Twinning friends and we can reinstate our Christmas dinner, usually held in the new year. If our members have any other ideas, do let us know. Book Club is still going strong on the third Wednesday of every month. In September it was Sue’s choice of “The Secret of the Chateau” by Kathleen McGurl and in October it will be Jane’s turn to choose. Pat is now managing to get copies of most of our books from Wroxham library and can supply more information for now on 01603 782375 or pat.barkergreen@btinternet.com. For any more information please contact us, via Peter, on 01603 782733 or peter_c_milsted@talk21.com