Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service:

Church Street (South)

HERE IS HANS PLACE (previously known as The Loke & Church Lane)
Named by B. Bond Cabbell after his Brother-in-Law, Hans Hamilton.

Hans Place was originally known as 'The Loke' or Church Lane and was a narrow passage measuring 6 feet wide. At the rear of Britannia House, stood a cottage called Britannia Cottage, with a garden that ran right down the Loke to Louden Lane, at the bottom . Later on five small houses were built in this part of the Loke, at the bottom part of Britannia Cottage garden, then later still Edward Trollor bought the cottage and the remainder of the garden and built Cromer's first Cinema. In 19-- this was later sold to Mr Harrison of Norwich.

Algar House:
On the other side of this narrow Loke stood a lock-up shop belonging to Richard Clarke, the butcher, who lived at Tudor House. In 1879, he purchased this land and a site behind the shop running up what is now Hans Place, and erected Algar House in 1881. During the building a Mr Leggett, (who lived in Cross St), whilst working at the top of the building fell to the groud and broke many bones but lived to tell the tale. Richard Clarke lived and worked here as a butcher for many years. There is, in a photograph taken before Algar House was built, from Church Tower, a small square building, partly up Hans Place, with a slated roof. This was at the end of Clarke's property, and still exists as part of the property. C.J. Parker took over in 1908, and later S.G. Lynn bought the business and was the leading Cromer Butcher for many years, also being Vicar's Warden at the CHurch opposite. In 1960, he retired, and Gibson Bros., who also owned Arnold House, further back in Church Street, bought the business, improved the frontage and were Butchers there.

After Algar House:
Originally there was a large field or "Church Pightle", separated from the road by a low wall, running to what is now Bond Street, although it did not then exist. It was all part of the field. At the point where Bond Street is now, was a driftway, leading to the Stables and buildings belonging to Samuel Amis (1860). He lived in South Cottages in Swan's Yard. This site is now occupied by the St. John's Ambulance Hall. Opposite to this, in the driftway, was a Blacksmiths Shop, owned by James Francis. It stood at the end of a small lane, which is still there, at the back entrance to the G.P.O. There is, in the C.C.H. Collection a painting of this forge and building.

Strand House:
Going back to Algar House, when building did commence on this field, the first site next to it was Strand House, built for Charles Munday, who had previously been employed by W.H. Smith's in London, by John Smith. He opened the shop as a newsagent, stationers, wools and fancy goods. The upper part was used as a boarding house. His grandson, Roy, was later the owner of the business.

Hagley House:
Next to Strand House was built Hagley House, which ran up to Bond Street. It was a very large building going from Strand House to Bond Street and up some way in Bond Street. It was built by Benjamin Bond Cabbell as a restaurant and apartments. Later on it was altered, and shops and fronts were put in. J.R. Roper, who had managed the Le Neve's dairy business further down at what was known as Read's Dairy, opened the first shop next to Strand House as a dairy and poultry shop. Up until the early 1980's it was the International Stores. Next to that Thomas Puxley had the remainder of the shop up to Bond Street (1908) as a grocers and drapery. Later, he divided the shop into two, and let the corner part to Saul tSalkind of Norwich, jeweller and watchmaker. Later it was taken over by Louis Levine and later still by his son Henry. When Henry closed it down and went to Norwich, in London Road, the shop was taken over by Bryant and Utting as a record, tape recorder and photographic shop. In 1963 it was run by Mr. Jack Bryant alone. The middle shop between Roper and Levine was retained by Puxley for a while, and finally he sold out to W. Rogers, who opened as an ironmongers. After he retired, Mr. Kirkham of Norwich re-opened it as an ironmonger, made many alterations in the shop, and later possessed another shop in Church Street, a wholesale section in Cross Street and branches elsewhere, under the name of 'K' Hardware.The top portion of Hagley House, above these three shops was, before the 1914-1918 War, hired to the inlaid Wood Co., who hired a large number of employees. It was later flats owned by Messrs Rusts.

HERE IS BOND STREET

The piece of ground beyond here, opposite Hagley House was for some time, after Hagley House had been built, a fine old garden. Miss Rounce, from East House opposite, hired it for some years.

G.P.O:
In 1889, the G.P.O. was built on the corner of Bond Street, on the other corner to Hagley House, and Mrs J. Fox, who had been Post Mistress at No. 12 Jetty Street, closed that and took over at the new premises.
Jarrolds, Lloyds Bank & Danetre House:
To more easily understand what happened to the ground next to the G.P.O. between that and Fern House, further up, it is best to visualise that on this piece of ground now stands Jarrolds of Norwich, Lloyds Bank and Dantetre House. All these were built on the site of the house called 'The Beeches' and its garden, which ran from the house up to the G.P.O. The 'Beeches' belonged to Mr Henry Sandford, and the property, apart from this large frontage in Church Street, ran back to, what is now, Mount Street, and consisted of another garden at the rear of the house, stables, Coach House, Barn and Bullocks Yard. He was an Auctioneer, Estate Agent and Farmer, also owning a Coal Yard at the Gangay. His son, W. George Sandford lived there with the Misses Sandford, and carried on the business. He was also Lloyds Agent, and the Hon. Secretary of the Local Branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for many years. He first introduced Crab Pots into Cromer, having seen them in use on the South Coast, and brought one back with him. His business address was Mickleborough House in High Street. He married, and moved away to No. 5 Brunswick Crescent. After he moved away from 'The Beeches', his Uncle, Mr George Sandford, a Chemist from London, came to live there. In due course, Mr. W.G. Sandford married a second time, and then moved to Colne Lodge, in Louden Road (now the site of the Telephone Exchange) until his death in 1898.

Danetre House:
Early in 1900 'The Beeches' was demolished. The last mention of the Sandfords is of a Miss Sandford as the sole occupant in 1899, after which she lived at Jetty Cottage until her death. The house stood next to 'Fern House' with the garden running up to the Post Office. When it was all demolished the following were built in this order. Next to the G.P.O. Messrs Jarrolds erected a large building, with a very spacious shop on the ground floor. Next to that Messrs Lacon, Youell & Kemp, erected a bank and house above, with a Mr. A. Shepherd as Manager. Later the bank was taken over by the Capital and Counties Bank (1908), then it was absorbed by Lloyds. Above the Bank was a boarding House, 'The Granville' Boarding House. (Robert. W. Clarke Prop.) which appears in an early photograph in my possession, showing the 'Granville' sign on the wall of the building. Next to the Bank, and more or less on the site of 'The Beeches' was built 'Danetre House'. Underneath it, on the ground floor, there was and still is, an Archway leading under the house's first floor, to a yard at the rear, which was part of 'The Beeches' original garden. In 1963 it was used as a car park for the Electricity Company's employees. In the Archway and along Church Street, there were and still are, shops. The entrances to the House are at two doorways each end. In these shops there have been a considerable number of occupants from time to time. Among them were W. Moulton, Gents Outfitters. Mr. Hunt, Outfitter. W&T Cheverton, Printer (1912). J R Millington, Outfitter and Labour Bureau. F.F. Dothie, Tobacconist, whose shop was on the left corner of the Archway (now occupied by the Midland Bank, 1991). J. Willis., A.J. Rogers, Photographer (1912), H.H.Tansley, Photographer, Amis, Music and Radio, L.W.F. Phillips, Music and Radio, occupied till the late 1980's by the London Restaurant), Westley Perkins, Draper (1908-12) followed by Mr L. Le Grice, Draper. (1920's). Smiths, Dyers and Cleaners, on the right side of the Archway.

Fern House:
Next to 'The Beeches' there was an old property which stood back from the road and was railed off. There is in the C.C.H. Collection a painting of this taken from the front view showing the railings. James Sidle, a Tailor, lived here (1841-77), and had apartments. The house went back some distance, with a tailor's shop at the rear. Mr John Lord, the Goldsmith School Master, lived here when he first came to Cromer (he died in 1880). There was a narrow passage, with a door into the street between the house and the next one (No. 25) now Limmers' Estate Agents. In 1889 James Bower, who owned the Bakery at No. 66 Church Street, corner of Garden Street, bought the property and demolished it and built a new Fern House. Very much larger than the first. On the ground floor there was a Restaurant. He was a member of both the U.D. Council and the Foreshore Commissioners, an Overseer, and held several public offices. He died in 1914, and the business was carried on by his married daughter, Mrs Henry Cole and her husband, until 1922, when G.W. Wilkin, from opposite at No. 38, bought the business and transferred to there, retaining the Bakery business behind and continuing the Restaurant. In 1961 Mr Arnold Wilkin closed the business, and it remained empty for some while, until taken over by Messrs Kendall's Umbrella Manufacturers. Earlier on, the Eastern Electricity Board had opened a Showroom next to Wilkin's Shop, under Fern House, where they still were in 1991.

No 25:
Next to Fern House was, and still is, a row of three small houses, which were originally, in the past, six cottages, converted. In the first of the three, next to Fern House, at No. 25, Sandford Simons lived as a tailor (1845-59), his two sisters, Sarah and Sabrina also lived there around 1879 and were straw hat makers. An old brick cupboard, where the hats were bleached, was there in 1936, and probably still is. Walter Andrews rented the shop. He was Manager to R.W. Palmer's Livery Stables. When he left, Mr Savin had a shop front put in. In the 1899 directory Mr Savin is listed as occupying both No. 25 and No. 23. Later at No. 25, Messrs Thomas Long, an Ipswich firm took it over for Sweets and Confectionery. Then Elmes and ?Featherstone, Auctioneer, followed, then Stanley Simons (1912), Auctioneer and Land Agent. Payne and Son, Tailors, were there until 1928, when Mr Savin retired and sold the property to R.J. Hardy. Then Mr Payne moved into Hamilton House, further down. Hardy's were sports Fitters and Harness makers. Then Messrs Limmers, Estate Agents from Mickelborough House, High Street, took the shop.

No. 23:
Miss Susan Collison kept a small children's school here. She was also Post Mistress (1845-57) prior to Mr. Fox, in Jetty Street. There was also a Thomas Cooke-Collison, Tailor and Draper, (1830), and a William Collison was on the poor rate from 1791. In 1860, D.W. Savin opened this as a Watchmakers and Jewellers, and later as a photographer, where he did an excellent trade in the days when phtography was a booming industry. There are, in the C.C.H. Collection, a number of his excellent full-plates of Cromer. He eventually bought No 25. After his death, his son, Alfred Collison Savin, Local Historian, whose researches formed the basis of some of this information, carried on as a dealer in Amber, Silver, Jewellery, China and Jet. When he retired in 1928, Mr Tennant took over the premises as Grocery business (1930), followed by a Mr H.L. Hurn, Architect and House Agent, then Gibson & Co., (A.F. Parker). Later on the house and shops beneath were taken over by Mr Harrison, whose business, was still running in 1991.

No. 21:
The last in this row is a small house and shop, with an entrance in the centre. Mrs Chadwich, had a General Sweet and biscuit business here in 1841-62, followed by Mrs H. Nockells, Grocer, (1864). She maried Thomas Mack in 1879. He was a Bookseller, Newsagent and Watchmaker (1875). There is, in the C.C.H. Collection a photograph of him standing at the door of the shop. He was also a Jet Cutter and Photographer, with a studio in Garden Street (?Hamilton Road Corner). He billed himself as Photographic Portrait and Landscape Artist. Shop Church Street, Studio Hamilton Road. Following him were two Miss Macks, who ran a drapery shop here, until they moved to Balcony House, at the corner of Mount Street and Church Street, where they opened as a Millinery, Dressmaking and Ladies Outfitting business. When they left No. 21, the Walsingham cycle Agents and Repairers occupied the shop (1925). In 1928 Mr F.H. Pearce opened it as a Leather Goods and Sports Depot. In 1990 Church of England Charity Shop.

Hamilton House:
Originally this was a large three storey boarding house, belonging to Mrs Elizabeth Brooks (1879). It was always full during the season. Dr R.N. Fenner started his professional career here. (1884), prior to moving to anewly built house in St. Margarets Terrace in the Norwich Road. He was partner with Dr Kent and later took a practise in London.

[Note: CCH:] Re. Dr Fenner. See Compton Mackenzie's account of his visit to Dr Fenner in 1891 whilst in Cromer and his high opinion of his skill. Octave 1, Page 241.]

This Hamilton House was sold by the Executors of Elizabeth Brooks - Benj. Rust an Thos. Mack and purchased by Thomas Henry Wallis of 7 Holborn Circus London (for #1580), (Wallis' Sister) on 1/9/1898 and after that it was demolished and the new Hamilton House was erected on the site. It is listed as being in "course of erection" in 1899. The new Hamilton House contained two shops on the ground floor, one large and one small, with a door in the centre. Upstairs, Messrs Bessey and Palmer, had a coal order office, with Mr W.P. Baker as a manager. The large shop on the left was opened by F. Marchese as a Restaurant. This was followed by A. Hardy, as House Furnishers, prior to their moving in 1928 to No.25. In 1928, Mr. T. Payne moved here from No.25, with his tailoring business. When Mr Payne died, Mr Jack Hall, who also had an outfitters business in Brook Street opened the shop as an outfitters. In 1963, he relinquished the shop and it was taken over by Mrs Watson and Miss Wilson of 'Elizabeths' as an additional ladies-wear shop. On the right side of the entrance was a small shop, lying slightly back from No.21. Mr E. Batson occupied this as a Newsagent, Library, and Fancy Goods business until 1914, when it was opened by Miss E. Clarke as a 'Work-bix, Fancy Needle-work, Wool and Silk depot.' Miss Molly Morgan, daughter of Mr Morgan, who had the dairy opposite at what is now Mr Colin Palmer's Florist and Fruiterers shop, occupied the shop. Then in 1934, Mr J.J.Briggs, Watchmaker and Jewellere, who moved from Flint House, at the beginning of Church Street, next to Upton House where his father had been established since 1894, opened up as a Watchmaker and Jeweller. He was still there in 1963.

In 1963, the flats above Hamilton House, were occupied by Mrs E. Bolam, Mrs A.C.E Baker and Mr L.R. Baker. Gerald Riches, Accountant at Norwich, also had an office, for certain times during the week, where Messrs Bessey and Palmer had their coal order offices.
At this point in Church Street, next to Hamilton House there is a passage way that has a very detailed history originally named on deeds in the 1700's as ?Cammels Yard. In the past there were a number of houses and buildings, running up behind Hamilton House, Nos 21, 23 and 25, also Fern House, to the garden of the 'Beeches' in Church Street. Most of this, in the main has, disappeared, or is in a state of ruin.
There is a private pathway leading to the backs of all the houses from Fern to Hamilton House. This block of land was purchased, many years ago, by four friends, who each built a house; at the back of Fern House and No. 25, Church Street was a builders yard. What is now the bake house and ovens1 were two flint built cottages, occupied by Cutty Harrison and George Allen, Fishermen; in a small cottage in thes driftway, Harrison's mother lived,later, Mrs Woodward and her daughter were there; they took in washing. One side of the drift is bounded by large barns, and the end near Church Street was a small cottage2 occupied by Matthew Brooks,coalyardman for Mr Sandford; he was also a small farmer and kept a lot of donkeys and traps, then a bar in the hire of Chrales Beasy. The annual club feast of the friendly Society, whose headquarters were the Albion Hotel, used to be held here, another barn in the hire of Henry Sandford, for a small seed store; his son, W.G.Sandford, held concerts in this barn. I remember when the song "Ten Little Nigger Boys" came out, and Mr Sandford gave it at one of his shows. The boys were dressed in white night shirts, and ranged from very small to tall boys. "The Old Tarpaulin Jacket" was also heard there, and many an old favourite besides. This row of barns formed one side of the driftway mentioned before. An old fire-engine, with hand lever pumps was kept there, it belonged to Mr Sandford. At the top end was a cross wing to the left this formed one side of a stockyard, stables, cart houses and other3 buildings occupied by Mr Sandford; the stables are still there, also a large piece of open ground, part of the old garden belonging to the back of 'The Beeches' in Church Street. There were a few sheds beyond which were used as a slaughter house by John Ives, Butcher4; then a large drying ground. [Savin - P113]

Annotations by C.C.H.

1. Bower and later Wilkins .
2. Two Cottages: One occupied by Matthew Brooks; Mrs Matthew Brooks was later the proprietress of Hamilton House in 1899, His widow Lizzie Brooks lived there after his death. The other was occupied by Charles Beasy. Later converted into offices and occupied by Roger Wortley, used by R.W during the war when the building in Church Street was bombed.
3. Still there as an opening between Nos 8 and 10 Mount Street.
4. Who had a lock-up butchers shop in Hunters Yard next to Reads Dairy.
At the Church Street end of this passage, on the left side, stood two cottages (one behind the other), on the street end lived Lizzie Brooks, and behind it lived Charlie Beasy; and behind these, on the end, up the yard, was the lower portion of Sandford's barn. These cottages were altered by Mr Wilkin, and the end one turned into a confectioner shop, with a modern front, and the barn at the rear used for storing his trade bakery carts etc. The upper portion of the barn was converted into a Steam Bakery, and an Electric Light Plant installed. Mr Arnold Wilkin has in his possession, the original Electric Light Switch, presented to his father, which turned on all the Electricity in Cromer, when it was first installed by the Electric Light Company. It is specially mounted, as a gift to him, to mark the occasion.

Mr Henry Bullen, Master Builder in the early part of this century, later on bought this Wilkins Shop and part of the barn and converted them into offices for his business. During the 1939-45 War, it was used by Messrs Rounce and Wortley's as a temporary shop, when their own own, at the corner of High Street and Church Street was bombed and demolished. In 1963, Mr Roger Wortley, used it as his Estate Office.

Next to this, in between it and the large house on Mount Street corner, was a small narrow strip of land. Messrs Gibson, Auctioneers, bought this and built a long narrow room, with roof lighting, and opened it as a lounge for the use of clients during the season. In 1963 was occupied by Mr Edward Levine, brother of Henry Levine, and son of Louis Levine, who opened the jewellers shop in Hagley House. He has this long showroom as an Art Showroom and Gallery for Antique furniture, picture, and Silver etc.

Next to this Art Gallery, standing on the corner of Mount Street and Church Street is a very large house. Before 1889 this was an open piece of ground, and at that time there had lived a Doctor McClure in Waverly House, Tucker Street (now part of East Cliff House), where he had been in practise since 1885. Then, as he was a doctor with private means, he built this large house on the corner of Mount Street and moved in in 1889.

The Crawford Holden collection contains an excellent tape recording of Mr Alfred Self, who was Dr McClure's personal assistant and chauffeur all the time he was in Cromer. He was 92 in 1963 and could recollect much of past Cromer, and his associations with the doctor. Dr McClure attended many of the celebrated people who used to come to Cromer in the seaon. Mr Self can remember taking a daily medicine to the Duchess of Marlborough, when she was staying at the old 'Tuckers Hotel'. He also remembers that on one occasion, the Doctor entertained 60 people in the large front room of the house, and every-one of these with one exception, was titled. The one exception was Mr Richard Gurney, father of Mr Christopher R. Gurney, present of Northrepps Hall.[C.C.H.]

In 1897, Dr McClure left Cromer and took up a practice in London. he had been very successful here at Cromer, and had been the first to introduce Electric treatment as one of the very latest inventions. After he left, a Doctor Musgrave took over. He and his wife had come from India. After staying five years he too left the district as his wife had never been happy with the climate. Then in 1902 Doctor Calvin Snith arrived. He practised here for many years, was the medical officer of health for the area, and after retirement continued to reside at the house until his death, at the very advanced age of about 97, in January 1963. The house is now used as a Cafe.

HERE IS MOUNT STREET.

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