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A lane that tells a thousand
stories
February
19, 2003
LADY LANE; ESPERANTO WAY;
MILLENNIUM PLAIN
(Bethel Street to Theatre Street)
A TRIO of names that have
been used to describe an ancient part of the city centre
that has been changed beyond all recognition.
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| LADY LANE: St Peter’s
Methodist Chapel in 1949. |
Here are some rare pictures
from historian George Plunkett who took them back when
Lady Lane was home to a collection of grand and more
humble properties.
There were also pubs, a 19th century chapel and a Medical
Institute.
Today there would be an outrage if they considered pulling
them now, but years ago they were demolished in the
name of progress.
Recent stories about the old Medical Institute and the
fact that top funny man Mr Pastry (Richard Hearne) was
born in Lady Lane have revived memories of the old place.
Among the letters I received was one from Renee Redshaw,
formerly Clark, in Australia who lived at 12 Lady Lane.
Both the Theatre Royal and the Hippodrome were nearby
and her mother ran a boarding house. She can remember
Sid Field, Gracie Fields and Victor Sylvester.
“Mother used to supply trays of teas for the artists
between the shows and my sister and I were the runners,”
she said.
Back in the 14th century
there were two thoroughfares known as Ladies Lane.
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| LADY LANE: Jasmine House
in 1960, which was the birthplace of funnyman, Mr
Pastry. |
There was the College of
Our Lady St Mary in the Fields, and later, a mansion
called Chapel Field House was built.
It has been suggested Lady Lane was named after the
famous resident Lady Frances Hobart and not because
of the college.
The whole area was obliterated between the 1930s —
when the City Hall was built — and the 1960s when
the Central Library opened.
During that development, the name was changed to Esperanto
Way to remember the British Esperanto Association holding
its conference in the city.
The people of Norwich were outraged that such a ancient
name should be dropped and eventually the words Formerly
Lady Lane were added.
After the library fire, The Forum rose from the ashes
along with the name Millennium Plain.
What's in a Name homepage
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