Changing Face of Norwich
- Red Lion Street
We see Red Lion Street today as a wide boulevarde with impressive Victorian mansions opposite the monolith of Debenham's department store. However before the trams came to Norwich this same street was a narrow thoroughfare with a ramshackle of somewhat run-down buildings facing the elegant Curls department store. The trams needed a wider street and so all of the east side was demolished enabling Norwich's foremost architects to demonstrate their talent in rebuilding Red Lion street.
This map from 1884 shows how much of the east side of Red Lion Street was demolished including (in pink) four pubs
The Peacock pub dominates this corner of Westlegate as it links to Red Lion Strett c.1895
Looking from Westlegate end towards Orford Hill. c.1895
A similar view to the previous image but note the shop at the end facing you which will soon be demolished to give access to Castle Meadow from Red Lion street c.1895
Looking from Orford Hill towards Westlegate showing east side of Red Lion Street c.1895
Need to sort out this one c.1895
The demolition of Red lion street in well on its way
The Orford Arms is gone and covered with posters leaving Boston's corner shop unscathed and easily recognised today.
Also note that the cut through to Castle Meadow is complete with scaffolding by the Bell hotel to tidy up the newly exposed side.
It seems that priority was given to rebuilding the Peacock as it is the first property to be rebuilt
A complted rebuilt Peacock
Red lion Street is transformed into an elegant boulevard
The Anchor Buildings tak their place opposite Orford Place
All the new building looking well established by this later image c.1920
