A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

Carrow Works, at the top of King Street, are the most extensive in England for the production of flour, starch, mustard, and blue. The works cover an area of five acres. They are conveniently situated on the banks of the Yare, and are permeated by trams from the Great Eastern Railway. Here are large flour mills, starch mills, and mustard mills, in which 1200 hands are employed. Steam engines to the enormous amount of 400 horse power are used to drive the machinery. About 100 tons of goods are produced here weekly, and sent away by rail to all parts of England, Europe, and America. A large number of hands are engaged in making the tins and wooden boxes in which most of the mustard is packed. We visited Carrow Works chiefly to see the mustard, starch, and blue factories; but we were tempted to take a peep at the great flour mill which has been erected by Messrs. J. and J. Colman, and which for magnitude and completeness has few equals. The machinery in this mill is driven by a magnificent pair of engines of 80 horse power. The Mayor for the present year, 1868, J. J. Colman, Esq., is the principal proprietor of these great works, and he has built many houses all around for his work-people, and also schools for their children at a cost of £2000.

A Nunnery formerly stood outside of King Street Gates, and was called Carrow Abbey, from “carr” a watering place, and “hoe” a hill. This abbey was dedicated to St. Michael and St. John. It was founded in the year 1146 by two ladies named Leftelina and Seyna. It was richly endowed by King Stephen, and consisted of a prioress and nine benedictine black nuns, afterwards increased to twelve. The site within the walls contained about ten acres of land, and the revenues and possessions were extensive. At the dissolution the abbey and lands became private property. J. H. Tillett, Esq., is the present occupier.

The Northern District.

This district includes all the parishes from the north-west to the north-east side of the river Wensum; and comprises the parishes of St. Michael at Coslany, St. Martin at Oak, St. Augustine, St. Mary, St. George’s Colegate, St. Clement, St. Saviour, St. Paul, St. James, and St. Edmund. On the north side we enter the oldest part of the city, which seems to have been always chosen by the poorest portion of the population, near the great factories, which stand high above all the surrounding poverty-stricken dwellings.

St. Michael at Coslany.

St. Michael at Coslany, commonly called St. Miles’, is a spacious church, with a lofty square tower and eight musical bells. The nave was rebuilt by John and Stephen Stallon, who were sheriffs in 1511 and 1512. The south aisle was begun by Gregory Clark, and was finished by his son, who was Mayor in 1514. The interior is handsomely decorated. At the east end of the south aisle there is a chapel, founded by Robert Thorp in the reign of Henry VII., encrusted externally with black flints, like inlaid work. The altar piece, by Heins, represents the Resurrection and the Four Evangelists, and the floor is paved with black and white marble, brought from the domestic chapel at Oxnead. There are a few ancient brasses and modern mural monuments. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £13 6s. 8d. and now at £117, was augmented in 1738 with £200 bequeathed by the Rev. E. Brooke; in 1818, with £200 given by the late rector; and from 1738 to 1818 with £1000 of royal bounty. Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, had the patronage of the living, which was usually given to the oldest bachelor of that college. It has recently been purchased by the Rev. E. Hollond, Benhall Lodge, Suffolk. The Rev. R. H. Kidd is the incumbent.

St. Martin at Oak.

The parish of St. Martin at Oak, in Coslany Street, and the whole neighbourhood, is a very old part of the city, full of very poor people. The church derived its name from a large oak which formerly stood in the churchyard. This was much visited during the reign of superstition, and many legacies were given towards painting, repairing, and dressing the image of St. Mary in the Oak. Another oak was planted on the same spot in 1656, but that now growing was planted eight years ago. The church is built of flint and stone in the perpendicular style, and contains some good piers. In 1852, the chancel was rebuilt and a new organ was placed in the church; and in 1862, plain open benches were substituted for the old pews in the chancel. There are a few monuments and brasses in the church, and in one of the former are effigies of Jeremiah Ravens and his wife in alabaster. She died in 1711, and he in 1727. The south porch is now used as a vestry, and the outer doorway is built up. The benefice is a perpetual curacy, certified at 20s., and now valued at £102. It was augmented with £200 given by William Nockells in 1722, and £1000 of royal bounty obtained from 1723 to 1824. The Dean and Chapter are patrons. Rev. C. Caldwell, B.A., the esteemed incumbent, is much respected for his kindness to the poor.

St. Augustine.

From St. Martin at Oak we pass onward into St. Augustine’s, where we find various factories and a very populous neighbourhood. The church, on the east side of the Gildencroft, is in the perpendicular style, and consists of a nave with aisles, chancel with aisles, south porch and tower. The tower contains a clock and three bells. The roof of the north aisle of the chancel is finely carved, and the clerestory is built of flint. In the south aisle of the nave is a marble monument in memory of Thomas Clabburn, manufacturer, who died in 1858. It was erected by the subscriptions of more than 600 weavers of Norwich as a tribute to his many virtues. The rectory, valued in K.B. at £6 7s. 8½d. and now at £150, was augmented in 1781 with £200 of Queen Anne’s bounty, and in 1810, 1811, and 1821, with £1400 in parliamentary grants. The Dean and Chapter are the patrons. The Rev. Matthew John Rackham is the incumbent.