The stories behind
our street names

ICE HOUSE LANE (between Carrow Hill and Bracondale)
THIS was probably built by Colmans in the early years of the 19th century.
The ice-house which gave it the name was in the garden of 7, Carrow Hill.
Ice was taken from the frozen sides of the river about 200 yards away and carted in trumbrils to the ice house. The slabs of ice were lowered into the brick chamber and packed between layers of straw.
Laying in the cool underground vault and insulated by the straw they remained to bring comfort in the heat of summer. If ever a sick person needed ice, it was only necessary to apply to Colmans and a slab would be brought up from Ice House Lane.

IVES ROAD (Fifers Lane)
FOUR men, all named Jeremiah Ives, served as Mayors of Norwich in 1733, 1756, 1769, 1786, 1795 and again in 1801.
The last one built Catton Hall, a late Georgian house where the large grounds and woods were laid out by the famous Humphrey Repton, who called them his earliest job.
In 1802, Mr and Mrs Ives gave an elegant ball for 300 ladies and gentlemen and some of the most powerful families in Norfolk turned up.
The Jerningham letters described it: “The Mayor’s ball was very splendid as to numbers.
“The dancing very much crowded in the Tea Room and a cold supper with hot soups in the Great Room, three tables from top to bottom and 50 people not sitting.”
The fourth Jeremiah died at Catton Hall in 1820, aged 66.

IVORY ROAD (Wycliffe Road)
Norwich’s favourite Georgian architect was Thomas Ivory who lived from 1707 to 1779. He built and designed two of the finest buildings in Norwich of the 21st century — the Assembly House and the Octagon Chapel.
More about Thomas Ivory

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