The stories behind our street names

CAVALRY RIDE (between Anchor Street and St James Close)

WHILE the infantry were foot slogging up and around Britannia Barracks, the horse soldiers were housed around the Horse Barracks — later known as the Cavalry and later still Nelson Barracks. This was certainly the military quarter of Norwich and there were plenty of watering holes for the thirsty soldiers. The names must have made them feel at home — there was the Horse Barracks Tavern, the Light Dragoon, the Mounted Volunteer, the Yeoman and the Evening Gun. Another outside the gates of the old barracks and was called The Canteen. There were a lot of people making a handy living out of the soldiers in old Norwich.


CASTLE HILL (Farmers Avenue to Castle Hill)

IN Norwich of the 21st century it is a peaceful and tranquil spot but they used to call it the Castle Walk. And it was the ideal place to stand to watch a man die — dangling from the end of a rope.

GHASTLY SPECTACLE: A cast of James Blomfield Rush’s head, pictured above top, is among the rogues’ gallery of Norwich murderers in the Castle Museum dungeons. Below,a drawing of Norwich Castle as it looked in Rush’s day.

Try to picture the scene back in 1849 when tens of thousands of men, women and children gathered to watch as murderer James Blomfield Rush met his maker.

The Victorians loved a good execution. They cheered and clapped as the bells of St Peter Mancroft tolled and the hangman put the noose around the neck of the father-of-nine known as the blunderbuss killer.

It seemed almost everyone wanted to watch as Rush, the man convicted of blasting to death Isaac Jermy, the Recorder of Norwich, and his son the oddly named, Jermy Jermy, at Stanfield Hall, near Wymondham.

A special excursion train was chartered to bring people from London to see the spectacle although the train was stopped at Attleborough and the blood-thirsty passengers sent packing.

The case had attracted enormous publicity across the country.

Rush, bankrupt and desperate for money, was accused of killing wealthy gentleman farmer Jermy and his son and wounding two women on the night of November 28, 1848. He then made his escape wearing a feeble disguise and was soon caught. Rush had always claimed he was innocent.

Top the disguise Rush wore; and below, an exhibition notice.

Tickets were issued to those wanting to sit in at his court hearing in Norwich. They were like gold dust and the gentry got most of them.
Rush was said to be “so dangerous” that reporters were told not to leave the pen knives they used to sharpen their pencils on the desk in front of them.

Rush repeated his innocence and rambled on for 14 hours in his own defence but the jury took just a few minutes to find him guilty and he was sentenced to death.

Reports described a vast multitude, estimated at up to 60,000 people, watching as Rush was brought out of the Castle and on to the gallows.

“The unfortunate man then ascended the scaffold with the greatest firmness, and the executioner proceeded at once to adjust the cap and rope.

“He then took farewell of the chaplain, governor, and officers, and while his hands were lifted up and his mouth apparently in motion the drop fell, and he was ushered into the presence of the infallible Judge of all human hearts.”

Years later an eye-witness Harriet Tolladay of Newmarket Road, Norwich, told the Evening News how she and members of her family stood at the mouth of Golden Ball Street to watch the scene.

“I saw Rush twizzle round and round,” she said.

“I remember also that both my sister and I turned very faint, and neither of us when we got home could eat any dinner,” she added.


CATHEDRAL STREET

ADOPTED in 1870 this street will lead you to the most elegant building in Norwich — the world famous 900-year-old cathedral.
To old “Norwichers” the term “going through the hairpin” will strike a chord. Others won’t have a clue what you’re on about. Walk from Prince of Wales Road, along Cathedral Street, through the Horsefair and you will then go ‘through the hairpin.’ With a little imagination you’ll know what the saying means.
Then go and take another look at the magnificent cathedral. Take your time – drink in the atmosphere. No matter how many times before you have visited it, it will always be an awesome sight. A fine symbol of a Fine City.

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