The stories behind
our street names

OLD BANK OF ENGLAND COURT (Queen Street)
The court housed a branch of the Bank of England from 1828 to 1852.
Many moons ago a certain Sir Lambert Black, quite a wag, wagered he could drive a “coach and four” into the yard, turn it around, and drive it out of the court without touching the walls. He won his bet with an inch or two to spare.

OLD PALACE ROAD (Dereham Road)
The “Old Palace” referred to is the historic Dolphin — once home to Bishop Joseph Hall after he had been thrown out of the Bishop’s Palace by Puritans back in 1643. In those days Heigham was in the countryside and the troubled Bishop could find peace and quiet in the gardens that sloped down to the river. He preached occasionally in the little church of St Bartholomew and was buried there on September 8, 1656.

OLD POST OFFICE COURT (The Walk to Castle Street)
Once the home of Edward Rede, Mayor of Norwich, back in 1521.
His bequests included a sum of money “for the ringing of the great bell in the steeple (of St Peter Mancroft) at 4am and at 8pm for half hour at least.”
Talk about an early morning call!
His home was used as a post office in about 1840.

OLD POST OFFICE YARD (Exchange Street)
More than a century ago part of Exchange Street was known as Post Office Street — because that’s where the post office was.
There was also a pub known as Bullard’s Post Office Tavern.
In the 1860s the post office had 20 sorters and five clerks and letter carriers.
There were deliveries three times a day and once on Sundays and the office stayed open until 9.30pm.

ONLEY STREET (Unthank Road)
The name of this street pays tribute to Charles Savill Onley. He was the son of Robert and Judith Harvey. His father had been a Norwich banker and his mother’s father was Captain Onley of the Royal Navy. In 1822 he took the name of Savill Onley on the death of his maternal uncle, the Rev Charles Onley, from whom he inherited a fine estate in Essex. He was elected steward and then Recorder of Norwich in 1801 and from 1812 to 1818 he was a member of Parliament for the city.

OPIE STREET (London Street to Castle Meadow)
She was the Norwich girl, born with a silver spoon in her mouth, who became the toast of London society before returning home to become a Quaker and devote her life to helping others. Her name was Amelia Opie and they changed the name of this street from Devil’s Steps — a former red light area — to make sure she will never be forgotten.
More about Amelia Opie

ORFORD HILL and ORFORD PLACE
Who was Orford? He was the Earl of Orford, a powerful and wealthy man who helped to pay for new roads in the heart of old Norwich. Way back in 1792, Rochester Lane was widened and a carriageway made across the Castle Ditches into King Street. Previously known as The Griffin Passage, Rochester Lane was the chief entrance to the Castle Ditches.
More about Orford Hill and Orford Place

OXNEAD ROAD (Margaret Paston Avenue to Blomefield Road)
This road runs at right angles at Margaret Paston Avenue and at one time the manor of Oxnead, near Buxton, was the Paston family home. One of the most gentle villages in Norfolk, it contained a hall second to none in the county. In 1671, Sir William Paston had the honour of entertaining King Charles II and Queen Catherine for a night at Oxnead. The Archbishop of York once granted 100 days’ pardon to all those who contributed to the repair and to the building of bridges at “Oxnede”.

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