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 The
stories behind our street names
 Buckingham
Road (South Park to Pettus Road)
A farmer's boy with leadership qualities who rose through
the ranks to become sherfiff.
More about Lewis Buckingham
Burgess Road (Drayton Road to Margaret
Paston Avenue)
I have to admit Burgess Road probably wasn’t named
after Edward Burgess, but Francis Burgess, another newspaperman
who published the first provincial newspaper, The Norwich
Post, in 1701. But nevertheless, I'm going to tell you
about Edward, editor of an extraordinary weekly paper
called Daylight.
More about Edward Burgess
Bussey Road (Fiddlewood Road)
William Bussey, an Alderman and Freeman of Norwich,
was Sheriff in 1612 and Mayor in 1633. He was admitted
as a Freeman in 1596.
He may have lived at Catton Old Hall. The house bears
the initials JB for John Bussey, thought to be his son.
There was a Bussey’s Charity charged on certain
lands and about 1860 in the north chapel of St Peter
Mancroft Church, there was a small brass effigy bearing
the inscription beginning: “Mary, that late was
William Bussey’s pride.”
Buxton Road (Waterloss Road)
It’s impossible to say which member of the Buxton
family this was named after. Norwich and Norfolk owe
so much to so many of the Buxton clan.
The family is linked by marriage to the Gurney clan
and members of these families have given honourable
service to Norwich life.
Bumpstede Court (Clover Hill)
The Bumpsteads (or Bumpsteds) were important people
in Norwich back in the 14th century.
In the election of bailiffs in 1365, Robert de Bumpsted
was elected as one of the bailiffs for the Wymer Ward
and Thomas de Bumpsted for the Mancroft Ward.
Ricardus de Bumpsted was also a civic dignitary. How
could he be anything else with a name like that?
DOES the name Williment ring any bells with you?
If it does, then Shirley Drew would love to hear from
you. She is researching the history of this old Norwich
family.
You can e-mail her at shirleydrew@talk21.com
Brasier Road (Blomefield Road to
Bassingham Road)
Yes, I know I’ve “done” this one already
but earlier this month I couldn’t find out much
about Robert Brasier (Brazier) save to say he was one
of the first sheriffs appointed by the charter of King
Henry VI in 1403/4.
Then Lilla Scott of the Great Hospital came to my rescue.
She spotted my piece and came up with more information
about this mercer — textile trader — who was
also a bailiff and an MP. “He probably came to
Norwich in the late 1300s and he started a brass foundry
business opposite St Stephen’s Church where Debenhams
stands today,” she says.
During the early part of the 10th century when Curls
were extending their store, part of the old bell foundry
was found.
“When a piece of ground was being dug up for building
the mall, a distinctive impression of a bell was seen.
“This proves the foundry must have covered a large
area,” adds Lilla.
“Many church bells and brass floor memorials were
produced for churches in Norwich and beyond. Some are
still in existence,” she says.
And she goes on: “In the year 1404, when Robert
Brazier and John Daniels were town bailiffs, the King
stated that in future Norwich should be a city.
These two men decided that the Toll House was not suitable
for a city and they decided to have the Guildhall built.
“Robert Brazier was mayor in 1410. His son and
grandson continued with the brass foundry which later
moved to Bracondale and All Saints Green. Part of the
old city gate at the top of All Saints Green was repaired
or completed with brass, and today part of that area
is known as Brazengate.”
Thanks Lilla — now we know.
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| A J Caley |
Caley Close (Drayton Road)
Caley’s make chocolate, but that’s not all
More about A J Caley
CAIUS COURT (Angel Road)
TO describe John Caius (pronounced Keys) as a bright
spark is something of an understatement.
He was born in 1510 and was, by all accounts, a clever
lad.
He was “first educated in school learning in Norwich,
then admitted to Gonville Hall in Cambridge, very young.”
He then “filled himself with all medicinal knowledge”
and became what is described as a “great ornament
of that university.”
Caius then returned to Norwich and practised with great
success until the “sweating sickness” came
to the city in 1551, which he treated with great success.
He became physician to King Edward VI and later to Queen
Mary and Queen Elizabeth.
Caius obtained permission in 1557 to refound Gonville
Hall, Cambridge, as the College of Gonville and Caius,
to which he left his estate.
He died in 1573 but his name and his memory live on.
He was a clever chap, that Mr C.
The court on Angel Road was built in 1977.
More
What's in a Name hompage
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