REGENT STREET
So called as it was created
in the period of the Regency, when George III was ill and
insane, and the Prince of Wales, (later
George IV) was Regent.
(appointed by Pitt, the Prime
Minister ).
The fire
at Arnolds was devastating, but it was rebuilt and bought out by Debenhams in
about 1978. In 2001 the site is occupied by “River Island” CLOTHING STORE, ,
and a row of shops.
An early
motorised delivery van.
Regent Street was formed by the paving commissioners, appointed by an
act of Parliament passed in 1809 which authorised the making of one
or more streets from the Quay, not further north than Row
67. This was to prevent any injury
to the traffic then existing through the old Broad Row and Market Row, and as a further protection to
the owners of property there, no shop or public house was to be allowed
in the new Regent Street. It is notable that as a result,
although there are plenty of shops in Regent Street, there are indeed to this
date, no public houses whatsoever.
West end
of Regent Street, 1987. On the left is the telephone exchange. In 2001 this is
empty and would ideally convert to an Hotel. It stands on the site of the
original Star Hotel. On the corner next to it stands the Post Office, which
since privatisation has been owned by “Post Office Counters Limited. On the
opposite corner stand the offices of Norwich Union Insurance, that were
occupied in 1938 by Barclays Bank. See also below.
The Street was formally
opened to the public on 29th Sept 1813, and at that time there were indeed
only residential houses there. On the
north side of Regent Street was the entrance to the Corn Exchange, erected
in 1842 from a design by Brown,
but later a new (completely different) Corn
Exchange, having an entrance
from Howard Street
was erected by Mr.J.Davey, the proprietor of the "Duke's
Head", and which was opened
for business in 1871. The Corn
Hall adjoining Regent Street was then purchased by the Government in 1870, and
converted into a Post Office.
At the south‑west
corner of Regent Street was a house
erected in 1765 by John Cotman, who passed it to his son in law, James
Turner on his death. It was afterwards the property of Travel Fuller, a
quaker who died
in 1795. In 1827 it was
purchased by T.F.Steward, who sold it in 1835 to the East of England joint Stock Banking Company, who
altered the premises for the purposes
of their business, and erected a new north front. After the disastrous
stoppage of that company in 1864
the property passed to the
London and Provincial Bank Limited.
Latterly it was the offices of
the Eagle Star Insurance
Company, and now is the offices of the Norwich Union Assurance Co.
The Occupants, Regent Street, 1938
(from 178 King Street to Hall Quay)
north
Side
1-8. Arnolds Ltd., departmental
store, furniture and china showrooms & c.
9. Scotch Wool and hosiery
stores, wools and hosiers
9a. Hill, E.E., florist
10. Maddison, Miles, and Son,
auctioneers
10.a, and 11. Baird, James,
and sons Ltd., boot makers
12. Norton Brothers, tobacconists
12. Farr, Robert
14. Norwich Union Fire
Insurance Society Limited (A.W.Miles, resident inspector)
14a. Skipper, Gilbert W.,
dentist
....Howard Street South....
16. Sivell, Frederick M.
16. Bayne, Arthur Duguid,
jeweller
17. Woodger, John and sons
Ltd., herring curers
17a. Ewer, George and Co.
Ltd., motor coach proprietors
18. Freeman, Leonard and
Philip, dentists
18. Plummer, Ralph William,
Dental Surgeon
18. Carr, Mrs.E.K.,
tobacconist
Post Office, P.E.Webber, postmaster
south side : Barclays Bank Limited, George William Neal, manager
22. Brunning and Co., seed merchants, nursery men
& florists
23. Culley, Spicer and Co., accountants
23. Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited
(R.J.Dobbins, district superintendent)
24. Bowers and Barr, electrical engineers
Gambling, William, and Duffield, auctioneers, valuers, surveyors and
estate agents
23. Euston Studio (W.T.Mallett, proprietor),
commercial artists
25. Norfolk News Co.Ltd.,(E.J.Gay, manager)
newspaper proprietors
26. Quick Service Dyeing and Cleaning Co.Ltd.
26. Delf F.S., estate agent
27. Stone F.A. and sons, tailors
....Howard Street South and Central Arcade....
28. Brown, Eve, costumier
29. Warren, Thomas W., auctioneer
Fastolff House
30. Tinkler, Herbert and Co., auctioneers
30. Howard, Thomas Bracey, hairdresser
30. London and Manchester Assurance Co.Ltd.,
(L.H.Elliott, supt.)
30. Boning, Miss, typewriting and duplicating office
and short-hand school
31. Inland Revenue Office (income tax dept.)
(S.M.Airey, inspector of taxes)
31. Williment and sons, accountants
31. Yarmouth and Gorleston Building Society (Hubert
Ernest Williment A..C.A.., sec.)
Gt.Yarmouth Mutual Plate Glass Insurance Co.Ltd.,
(Harold Williment managing director)
31. East Anglian Investment Association Limited
(Harold Williment, managing director)
31. Provident clothing and supply Co.
31. Pickfords Limited, removers
33. Bessey and Palmer Limited, coal merchants
34. Boots- Harvey H., dentist
34. Eastern Counties Omnibus Co.Ltd., (enquiry
office)
35. Smith, Edward Howlett, jeweller
36. Freeman Hardy and Willis Ltd., boot makers
36. Martin and Acock, accountants
36. Phillips Clarence A..B., L.MusT.C.L., teacher of
music
37. Salmon and Gluckstein Limited, Tobacconists
38. George, A..V., and Co. Ltd., auctioneers
39. Grimwade J.H. and son Ltd., outfitters
39. Coker, Archibald Walter
40. Carr and Carr, gramophone dealers
41. Crown Hotel, Percival J,Enticknap
The Crown Hotel was at the South –East corner, no 41