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 The
stories behind our street names
CANNELL GREEN (Barrack Street)
BERTIE the butcher — a man of “sound
sense and fairness” — would have been proud
to have had this development named in his honour more
than 10 years after his death.
The name was approved in 1969 as a tribute to the former
leader of the Conservative group on Norwich City Council
who died in the summer of 1958 at the age of 56.
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| HONOUR:
Bertie Cannell, the butcher, who was a great servant
to the city. |
Busy Bertie Cannell ran butchers shops
in Barrack Street, Bull Close Road and Woodcock Road
and was to be seen serving every day.
Despite the fact that he did not share the political
opinions of many people in Pockthorpe, he was greatly
respected by his neighbours and was consulted on “all
manner of human problems.”
A man of great vision and common sense, he led the Conservative
Party with vigour and was one of the few councillors
who could hold his own with the then leader, the legendary
Fred Jex. He was elected to the city council for the
St Stephen’s ward in 1929 and before that served
on the Board of Guardians. He was created a CBE in the
1952 Birthday Honours List.
Bertie had tireless energy, he entered wholeheartedly
into the affairs of the council, markets and housing.
He was a true man of the people. As vice-chairman of
the housing committee he gave all his support to the
Labour Party during the big council housing drive and
said there were years when his “doorway was never
cold”.
It was no secret that Bertie was often offered the opportunity
to become Lord Mayor or Sheriff but he refused hoping
it would be offered again when he was taking a less
active role in his business and council life. He was
a great servant to the City of Norwich but was simply
too busy to take on any more jobs.
Sadly his health failed him and he died leaving a widow
and one daughter.
Bertie was also a magistrate and after his death chairman
Mrs D I Eddington said: “We remember the great
common sense he brought to the work of this court.”
CARLYLE ROAD (Corton Road)
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) was a popular Scottisah author.
Of peasant stock - his father was a mason - he went
to Edinburgh University but later moved to London where
he wrote and lectured.
CARDIGAN PLACE (Russell Street)
Another national military hero name. James Thomas Brudenell
(1797-1868), the 7th earl, commanded the Light Brigade
at Balaclava. This village and harbour in the Crimea
was the scene of the famous charge in 1854. Obeying
a bungled order, Lord Cardigan led the Light Brigade
against murderous fire from the Russian guns —
only a remnant returned. And yes, Balaclava helmets
were first worn at Balaclava. I’m not so sure about
cardigans!
CARROW AND CARROW HILL
Come on you yellows. . . sorry, not another mention
of football.
Enough has been said already. Carrow Road was named
long before the Canaries came flying along anyway. A
Benedictine Nunnery (now known as Carrow Abbey) with
its Priory Church dedicated to St Mary of Carhowe was
built in the 12th century. It was described as lying
between the high land at Bracondale and the river, slightly
above the marshy ground. That’s “car,”
a marshy place, and “how” a hill. The priory,
by the way, owned land in Norwich and also had market
stalls for which the city paid rent.
CATTLE MARKET STREET (Golden Ball Street to Rose
Lane)
 The
markets and fairs of Norwich have a history as ancient
as any in the land. Many moons ago the markets were
held on Tombland but the cattle market, pictured right,
was contained around the old Castle Market area.
From about 1600 and during the reign of James II it
was decreed that the cattle should be sold only in the
ditches and spaces to the east of the castle. This was
the beginning of the Cattle Market on “the hill”
as it was known and it remained there until it was removed
to Harford in 1960.
Today we have the Castle Mall complete with the Castle
Green — and it looks better than ever.
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