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 The
stories behind
our street names
QUAKER’S LANE (St Crispin’s Road)
In 1670 the Norwich Society of Friends bought
about an acre of ground in St Augustine’s Parish
for £72 to use as a burial ground. The Quakers
were not baptised and could not be buried in churchyards.
A further piece of land to the north – often let
for grazing horses and for “Taintors” (frames
for drying cloth) – was bought for £48 from
John Bound.
The Quakers – a strong and powerful movement in
Norwich of those days - built the Gildencroft Chapel
on this ground and it was opened in 1699.
The old chapel survived until it was destroyed in the
Norwich Blitz of 1942. A new building was built following
the war.
QUAYSIDE (Wensum Street)
An ancient part of Norwich with a rich history
— and now a charming place to live.
New developments have tempted people back into this
quarter of the city where coasters, barges and wherries
once jostled for spaces on the busy river.
At one time this was the busiest part of the Wensum.
A hustling, bustling place where there was never a dull
moment.
This was where many poor women, condemned by magistrates
or the mob, were “ducked.” A crude chair,
at the end of a long pole, tethered at the land end
and protruding over the river, was occupied by the victim.
The “cucking” or “ducking” stool
was then dropped into the water a number of times.
Years ago hundreds of families lived around Quayside
— many in the cramped, dingy and damp courts and
yards. The area went through some bad times before and
after the Second World War when it was allowed to turn
into a slum.
But Quayside survived and is looking good. An historic
area with a bright future.
QUEBEC ROAD (St Leonard’s Road to Kett’s
Hill)
This road was adopted by the Norwich Corporation
in 1899.
It was in this Canadian city back in 1759 that a pitched
battle took place on the banks of the river St Lawrence.
General Wolfe dropped in during the night with 4,000
men in boats and attacked Montcalm’s French forces.
The French broke and fled as the British, bayonets fixed,
charged.
Louis Montcalm — they also named a road after
him in Norwich — died of his injuries and James
Wolfe — yes, the city road is named in his honour
— died four days later.
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