News

New heritage signage unveiled in Elm Hill and Timberhill areas

Tuesday, 16th February 2010

Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) this week unveiled new heritage signage in the form of commemorative blue plaques and street plates in the Elm Hill and Timberhill areas.

Installation of the signage is the next stage of plans to develop the local distinctiveness of Elm Hill and Timberhill, areas chosen because they represent two of Norwich's principal economic offers - speciality retail and heritage. HEART secured £250,000 from the East of England Development Agency for the project, following its hugely successful work on heritage interpretation in the Norwich Lanes, which was supported by local traders and Norwich City Council.

HEART appealed to local people for their suggestions of people, events and buildings to be commemorated on the plaques. One story to emerge was that of Norwich-born Pablo Fanque, the first black British circus proprietor. Beatles fans will recognise the name from the lyrics of the song Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite - John Lennon based the lyrics on a 19^th century poster bought in an antiques shop advertising Pablo Fanque's circus. Pablo Fanque's family lived in Ber Street and his blue plaque can be found on the wall of John Lewis opposite the entrance to Timberhill.

Another plaque, situated at the bottom of Timberhill on the corner of Red Lion Street, celebrates the nearby former Orford Cellar, which hosted performances in the 1960s from rock legends Jimi Hendrix, Ginger Baker, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Elton John and Geno Washington. The venue also featured popular local acts including Lucas and the Emperors and The Continentals.

As well as plaques, street plates similar to those in the Norwich Lanes area have also been installed. The plates provide information about the former names of some of Norwich's streets, and explain the origins of the more unusual street names you can see today.

The plate installed on Princes Street reveals that the street was known as Hundegate in the 13^th century as, according to popular tradition, it was where the Bishop's hounds were kept. It was later renamed Princes Street after the Princes Inn, which stood where the restaurant Trattoria Rustica is today.

Timberhill's street plate explains that it was named after the 16^th century timber market, but was previously known as Durnedale in the 14^th century and later Old Swine Market Hill after the swine market located there.

Michael Loveday, Chief Executive of Norwich HEART said: "The latest signage installations provide an extra dimension for making information about Norwich's fascinating history more accessible to the general public.

"The scheme in the Norwich Lanes has been massively popular with traders, tourists and the local community and not only that, studies on the effectiveness of the project concluded that the initial investment will result in substantial benefits for the local economy. By replicating this work in the Elm Hill and Timberhill areas we have every reason to believe that similar results can be obtained."

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Notes to editors

Opportunities for interviews and pictures are available.

For more information please contact Christina Lister, Communications Manager at Norwich HEART on 01603 599570 or email christinalister@heritagecity.org or Sophie Harrison, Communications Officer at Norwich HEART on 01603 599578 or email sophieharrison@heritagecity.org.

About Norwich HEART

Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) is a private, charitable trust set up to act as an umbrella organisation for all of the heritage on offer in Norwich. We strategically plan, regenerate, manage and promote Norwich's heritage and act as a best practice model internationally for developing heritage as a social and economic regeneration vehicle.

http://www.heritagecity.org/

About the Elm Hill and Timberhill project

Norwich HEART secured £250,000 of funding from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to deliver a project to develop the local distinctiveness of two independent retail areas in the city - Elm Hill and Timberhill.

The project involves heritage interpretation initiatives including blue plaques, street plates and heritage ‘totem' signs as well as public realm improvements. Elm Hill and Timberhill were selected since they encapsulate two of the city's principal economic offers - speciality retail and heritage.

About the blue plaques

Blue Plaques commemorating the following historical people, events and buildings have been installed in the Elm Hill and Timberhill areas: Pettus House, St Christopher's Church, Paston House, United Reformed Church, Britons Arms, Baptist Particular Chapel, Wrights Court, George Walpole, Adrian Parmenter, 33 Timberhill, John Greene Crosse, Pablo Fanque, The Murderers Public House, The Orford Cellar, The Bell Hotel, Fishergate, Sir Arthur Michael Smith, and Romani DNA.

About the street plates

Street plates giving information about the origins of street names have been installed in the following Elm Hill and Timberhill areas: Quayside, The Monastery, Princes Street, Wagon & Horses Lane, Tombland, Queen Street, All Saints Green, Lion & Castle Yard, Timberhill, York Alley, White Lion Street, Ber Street, Agricultural Hall Plain, Cattle Market Street, Castle Meadow, Farmers Avenue, Redwell Street, Wensum Street and Westlegate.