Lasting legacy for a musical empire

November 26, 2003

HOWLETT DRIVE
(Rawley Road)

The 1930s Howlett and Son piano showroom is the building to the right. Pianos were made in London and sold in the family’s stores.

MUSIC and shoes — that’s what gentlemen by the name of Howlett were famous for in old Norwich.

Let’s start with music by telling the story of how a humble bombazine (that’s a worsted fabric) manufacturer decided to pack up his humdrum life and embarked on setting up a musical empire.

It was an extraordinary success and they even named part of the city centre after him — it was called Howlett’s Corner at the junction of The Walk and London Street where Burton’s stands today.

The story starts way back in 1820 when young William Howlett had a dream . . . to set up a business in Norwich selling musical instruments.

He managed to save a little money and in 1824 was established in Duke Street where, he announced, he was also prepared to supply “military bands for water frolicks and processions”.

William was also a musician and he played in the orchestra of the first Musical Festival of 1824 and become a leading member of the Norwich Choral Society.

Slowly but surely, William’s musical empire spread — he helped to organise a number of big events. He helped a number of charities in Norwich and was made a Life Governor of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the Jenny Lind Infirmary and the Norwich Dispensary.

In 1860 William took his sons, Walter and Henry, into partnership. The booming business then moved into new premises at the corner of The Walk and London Street.

This was a huge place, full of musical instruments, and it become a great meeting place in the city.

Henry retired when William died but Walter and other members of the family took over.

William Howlett.

They expanded again in Norwich, opened in Lowestoft and went into piano manufacturing.

Pianos were made in London and then taken to Norwich, where they were sold from their showrooms.

They even had their own band — Howlett’s Band — which was always in great demand at local events.

William Robert Crow Howlett ran the business for many years and he also took an active role in civic life.

He served as a magistrate and become Mayor of Norwich in 1906.

He was also a director of the wonderfully named Norwich Decayed Tradesmen Society.

In 1938 the business was taken over by Messrs Murdoch, Murdoch & Co, one of the largest music retailers in the country and later the site was bought by the tailors Montague Burton, who are still there today.

t Next week I’ll be telling the story of Howletts the shoemakers and a remarkable man by the name of George White — the boss who was also a working class hero and the father of the Norwich shoe trade.

What's in a Name homepage