The 75th anniversary of the NHS is being celebrated today, so we thought it was time to take a trip down memory lane.

The old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, now some swanky housing, was once situated on St Stephens Road having been founded in 1771 as an institution to care for the poor and the sick.  

Norwich Evening News: N&N examination room Date July 16 1971 N&N examination room Date July 16 1971 (Image: Archant)

Norwich Evening News: Dr Jasper Goodwyn at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital June 1991 Dr Jasper Goodwyn at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital June 1991 (Image: Archant Library)

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It was later redesigned and opened as a hospital on the same site by Edward Boardman and Thomas Henry Wyatt in 1883.  

The hospital cared for injured servicemen during the First World War.  

Norwich Evening News: The old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on St Stephens Street The old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on St Stephens Street (Image: Archant)

Norwich Evening News: The old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital during its demolition in 2003 The old Norfolk and Norwich Hospital during its demolition in 2003 (Image: Mike Page)

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An ear, nose and throat building was added in 1930 and a maternity and gynaecology ward came shortly after in 1935.  

Things took a dramatic turn during the Second World War as the N&N was bombed repeatedly – even losing some of the main parts of the hospital.  

Norwich Evening News: Members of the honorary staff at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital being presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh Date 1957 Members of the honorary staff at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital being presented to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh Date 1957 (Image: Archant)

But despite this, in 1948 the NHS was founded and the N&N became the NHS hospital which many city folk will associate with both happy and sad memories.

The old site was closed in 2003 and the new hospital in Colney has been Norwich’s main hospital ever since.  

Norwich Evening News: The former site of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital pictured in 2009 as its conversion into housing nears completion The former site of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital pictured in 2009 as its conversion into housing nears completion (Image: Mike Page)

Norwich Evening News: General View of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital at Colney General View of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital at Colney (Image: Archant)