Distinguished doctor who lived in fine style

August 18, 2004

MARTINEAU LANE

MANY famous Martineaus — originally French-speaking strangers of Norwich — made their mark in the world. Harriet and James were the most famous.

But this lane is named after Dr Philip Meadows Martineau (1752-1829), one of the most distinguished surgeons of his time who gave half a century of service to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

Philip Meadows Martineau, the eminent surgeon who lived at Bracondale Woods.

Where County Hall now stands was once his large and sprawling estate known as Bracondale Woods.

It was in 1793 that Martineau bought an estate at Bracondale, which reached as far as the river, and he went on to build his magnificent house at the top of the slope with woods as the background.

Although barely a mile from the squalor and bustle of the city, it could have been a million miles. This was country living at its most relaxed.

And the good doctor would seek seclusion and peace on his rambling estate following a hard day at work in the hospital. At Bracondale Woods he lived the life of a country squire entertaining his friends to a day of shooting in the woods — later laid out for walks.

There was also a summer house known as Knucklebone Hall which had bone paving.

He also kept a house at Colegate, where he lived and worked during the week, and he worshipped at the Octagon Chapel.

The doctor also played an active part in civic life, helping to set up the Norwich library, and a forerunner of the Norwich Festival which raised money for the hospital.

By the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Norwich was fast growing beyond the confines of its medieval walls and the wealthy old doctor kept land at Bracondale. After his death, the house remained in the family and his only daughter, Fanny, lived there until 1877.

The estate was then bought by J J Colman and it was here that his son, Russell J Colman, brought his bride in 1888 before moving to Crown Point.

The Rev J Gurney then lived in the house for a short time and then for the last 40 years it was leased by the Colmans to Mr C Hore-Ruthven.

Then in the 1960s the developers moved in.

The house and the grounds were destroyed to make way for County Hall, which still stands on the site today.

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