Historic street that was hit by civic vandalism

January 10, 2007

ST GILES'

Hark hark, the dogs do bark, the beggars are coming to town…and through the City Gates at St Giles’ to the church, dedicated to the patron saint of cripples, they made their way.

This was an old saying when the poor people living on the streets arrived at this handsome church, with its great 120ft tower, the tallest in Norwich, seeking help.

An illustration of civic vandalism. The Grand Opera House, opened at St Giles’ in 1903, became the Hippodrome, and was pulled down in the 1960s to make way for the multi-storey car park.

People also used to stand outside the church waiting for the bells to be rung when an execution took place at the old city jail – now the Roman Catholic Cathedral.

And it was where the fire basket, acting as a beacon warning of approaching danger, was placed.

This historic street – originally known as Newport – still contains some of the finest Georgian houses in Norwich – many were lived in by doctors including the famous Sir Peter Eade. It was the Harley Street of its day and was also packed with shops, pubs, businesses and a theatre

Sir Peter lived at Churchman House – now the register office. He was given the freedom of the city and knighted by Queen Victoria in 1885.

One remarkable man who lived here in the 18th century was Dr Edward Rigby, one of the founders of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. A pioneering doctor, he was also a man of action who loved travelling and spent some time in Parish during the French Revolution, mixing with the rebels on their return from storming the Bastille.

At his 300-acre farm in Framingham Earl he grew herbs for experimental medicine, including opium poppies.

Edward was born in 1747 near Manchester and came to Norwich when he was 16 to be apprentice to the prominent city surgeon, David Martineau. He married twice.

With his first wife he had two daughters. After she died he remarried in 1803 and had a further 12 children with his second wife, Anne, who lived to be 95. These included twins in 1804 and in 1817, when he was aged 70, his wife gave birth to quadruplets (three boys and a girl). They died after a few weeks.

He took a major role in civic life in Norwich – and saved countless lives by introducing smallpox vaccination to the city.

A bird’s-eye view of St Giles’ before buildings came tumbling down so the inner ring road could be built.

He became a member of the Corporation of the Guardians in 1783 and opposed the building of a new workhouse, proving that a system of home allowances was both better and cheaper for the city.

Edward also set up the Norfolk Benevolent Medical Society to help widows and children of physicians. He was Sheriff of Norwich in 1803 and Mayor a couple of years later.

He died in 1821 at his home in St Giles’ – Rigby’s Court off St Giles’ is named in his honour and so is Rigby Close at Framingham Earl – a man worth remembering.

St Giles’ was also home to the magnificent Norwich Hippodrome that opened as the Grand Opera House in 1903 – it became a famous music hall, and the biggest stars of the day played the theatre including Laurel and Hardy in the 1950s. The theatre closed in 1960 and was pulled down four years later to make way for the multi-storey car park – a classic example of civic vandalism.
Watch this space for a picture of the Evening News paperboys outside the Hippodrome.

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