Reporter made his mark with books

March 10, 2004

KNIGHTS ROAD
(Woodward Road)

NAMED after Mark Knights, the son of a brushmaker who dedicated his life to writing about the city he loved — Norwich.

His most famous works were Highways and Byeways of Old Norwich and Peeps at the Past.

Images of a city from the book Highways and Byeways of Old Norwich.

The highways book was published by Jarrold in 1887 and is a ramble around the old city with 50 illustrations by Percy Stimpson.

If you are interested in our history there are absolute gems, but very rare today.
They are fascinating windows on a Norwich world that has long gone — but one you can still recognise.

Mark Knights was born in the city back in March 1844. He was the oldest of five sons of Edward Knights, a city brushmaker.

After leaving school, Mark went to work for the Norwich Mercury (now the Evening News) where he covered local events as a reporter.

He then moved on to the Norfolk News and Eastern Daily Press, where he rose to become chief reporter. Apart from writing about life in and around Norwich, Mark loved history and his books Highways and Byeways and Peeps at the Past became local bestsellers.

He also wrote others including Rambles Among Norfolk Antiquities in 1892. They turned him into a local celebrity.

Mark was working in London on March 21, 1897, when he died suddenly at the age of 53. His son Cecil Knights followed in his footsteps by becoming a reporter with the Eastern Daily Press.

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