NHER 332 (Building record) - Norwich Thorpe Station, Thorpe Road

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Summary

Norwich originally had three stations: the Thorpe Station discussed here which opened in 1844, the Norwich Victoria Station (NHER 13578) which opened in 1849 and closed in 1916, and the Norwich City Station (NHER ) which opened in the early 1880's and closed to passengers in 1959. The original 1844 Thorpe terminus stood to the south of the present building, which dates to 1886. Constructed of red brick and stucco, the station has recently been thoroughly cleaned and restored, and sits on a prime site overlooking the river and the main road up to Norwich Castle (NHER 429). Norwich Thorpe Station had an Italianate office block, which was demolished in the 1920s, and an iron train shed which stood until the 1980s, when it was removed and given to the North Norfolk Railway. The original 1844 engine sheds were demolished February 1994.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (II) 1051837: NORWICH RAILWAY STATION

Location

Map sheet	TG20NW
Civil Parish	NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

Round barrow previously recorded under this number now NHER 39358.

Railway Station. 1886 John Wilson.
Red brick and stucco. Slate and lead roofs. Ironwork and glass concourse.
The central bay is higher with imposing dome.
See (S1) for further details.
Compiled by O. Beazley.

The listing gives the architect as John Wilson but in ref (S2) it is given as W. N. Ashbee, the GER architect who designed the contemporary extension to London Liverpool Street and Wolferton station (NHER 13591 context 1).
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA), 19 October 1998

The original 1844 terminus stood to the south of the present building.
It had an Italianate office block demolished in the 1920s.
Its iron train shed stood until the 1980s when it was removed and given to the North Norfolk Railway.
The 1844 engine sheds were demolished February 1994. See (S3).
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA), 10 February 1994.

S. Woodward, map of AD 1050 shows raised bank near river near Thorpe Station, thought it Danish.
Compiled by R. R. Clarke (NCM).

See file for further details.

See Norfolk Industrial Archaeology Society fiche for further details.

There is said to be a Second World War Railway Emergency Control Room here; an adapted tunnel rather than something purpose built (S4). According to (S5), "Norwich District Council found a convenient rampart near Thorpe Station" for this. According to (S6), in 1938 £1300 was spent on a new building and £1630 on electrical equipment.
D. Gurney (HES), 08 January 2014.

Further information suggests that the WW2 control room was a building that stood to the right of the entrance, in front of the building now used for signing in by drivers and conductors. It was demolished in the 1990s. See digital file and photo.
D. Gurney (HES), 24 January 2014.

Associated Sources (27)

--- SNF50700 Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1998. TG 2307Z - AC.
--- SNF4512 Article in Serial: Harrod, H.. 1859. Notice of Excavations Made at Burgh Castle, Suffolk, in the Years 1850 and 1855. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol V pp 146-160. p 148.
--- SNF8808 Fiche: Exists.
--- SNF75855 Monograph: Brundall Local History Group. 2007. The Book of Brundall and Braydeston. p 155.
--- SNF58263 Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 334; Pl 104.
--- SNF63625 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1981. [Articles on the movement, repaired and restoration of workshed from the Old Norwich City Station].
--- SNF97615 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1986. Station remnants saved. 21 October.
--- SNF68844 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1995-1998. [Articles on the redevelopment of Norwich Thorpe Station].
--- SNF89104 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1995. Hidden cost of station facelift. 26 October.
--- SNF68845 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1997. Better times ahead for rail station. 28 November.
--- SNF68850 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1998. £2m facelift begins on station. 19 January.
--- SNF68848 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1998. Eye-catching shine for city skyline. 28 August.
--- SNF68849 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1998. Recognise this landmark?. 30 May.
--- SNF97595 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1998. Serious work is about to start on turning Norwich's Riverside into a lively new quarter of the city. 30 July.
--- SNF68846 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1999. Loco yard at standstill as rail strike took grip. 30 April.
--- SNF68847 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2001. Photograph of Norwich Thorpe Station. 4 May.
--- SNF81651 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. Norfolk's spooky past. 27 October.
--- SNF81646 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. Opening a window on despicable crimes. 30 October.
--- SNF87228 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Norwich - Roman.
--- SNF87213 Record Card: NCM Staff. 1973-1989. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card - Norwich.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1> SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1051837.
<S2> SNF6485 Monograph: Jackson, A.A.. 1969. London's Termini..
<S3> SNF165 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1994. Dismay as steam age history is bulldozed. 11 February.
<S4> SNF90573 *Verbal Communication: Paul Francis. 2014. Verbal communication.
<S5> SNF90588 Publication: Norman Grump. 1947. By Rail to Victory - The Story of the LNER in Wartime.
<S6> SNF90589 Documentary Source: 1938. TNA 08-06-38.

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Record last edited

May 14 2018 1:30PM