Holt, an elegant Georgian town.

NOW: A busier time today, with a line of parked cars outside the banks and shops. In the distance, a line of cars are about to move off again, having been held up by the pedestrian-controlled traffic lights. White lines punctuate the road surface everywhere and the watchmaker's shop has long-since gone, but many of the other buildings still look the same.

THEN: A view of High Street, Holt, looking towards the Market Place. The sign on the left-hand shop reminds everyone that: “This Shop for Gifts and Presents”, and seems to be a watchmaker’s. Its clock shows a-quarter-to-eleven. There are several bicycles and a nice little tourer, EOY 264, parked outside the shops.

HOLT is a Georgian town, having been rebuilt in the early-1770s following a great fire in 1708. It started near Shirehall Plain with such ferocity that stallholders had insufficient time to even rescue their wares.

The town received considerable donations from all over Norfolk and, as a result, the large numbers of destroyed properties were rebuilt, leaving an enduring legacy of Georgian architecture which remains to this day. Today, Holt is a busy town which serves many of the surrounding villages, as well as being a haven for tourists wishing to explore the North Norfolk countryside and the coastal resorts. It is also a popular spot for those wishing to retire, with a diverse selection of shops and eating places.

Bygone days in Holt
A tranquil High Street, bereft of today’s noisy traffic and surging crowds of shoppers.

No double yellow lines or pelican crossings in those far-off days gone by.

“When I was quite young, I can recall going on the ’bus to Holt one Saturday with my mother. We went to see a matinee performance of Bambi at The Regal, which I seem to think was in Peacock Street, somewhere near Shirehall Plain. It was a very sad film and, when Bambi’s mother died in the forest fire, we both cried! Then we went to have a cup of tea with a Mrs Beresford, before returning home to Sheringham on the ’bus.”

On the left is the High Street and the Owl Tea Rooms, with its sign offering Teas and Hovis is to be seen.

Next door is a greengrocer’s shop and beyond that a shop which seems to be selling just about everything, from cycle tyres to suitcases, walking sticks to rubber boots.

Letheringsett
This is little village, north of Holt, is on the main road to Fakenham and devoid of today’s continuous traffic.

Letheringsett church can be seen to the left of the impressive hall, complete with a series of ornate Greek columns.

Another of my memories of Holt from years gone by:

“During much later years, as a young motorcyclist, I took an after-dark ride to Holt to buy some fish and chips, I think from a ‘chippy ’ in Albert Street. I had intended to get them closer to home in Sheringham, but I quite liked the idea of a ride on my Zundapp instead. Stuffing the newspaper bundle in my leather jacket I set off for home again, only to run out of petrol half way down Lodge Hill, near Sheringham Park. Cold chips just do not taste quite the same, I can assure you!”

Just what the local council of today would think of the windowboxes – full of colourful plants – performing a delicate balancing act on the window ledges, doesn’t bear thinking about! On the opposite side of the road can be seen Rounce& Wortleys, the Printers, and just hidden behind the van belonging to Lees of Holt is the East Anglian Electrical Service and the Electricity shop.

Pretty woodland
Holt is surrounded by several well-wooded areas of parkland and common land, such as Spout Hills and Holt Lowes.

There are also many pleasant walks to be found in the Holt Country Park on the south side of the town.

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