NORTH
WALSHAM, a busy market town, just 15 miles inland from the North Norfolk coast,
holds a great many memories for me from my days there as a scholar at The
Paston School from 1952–1957, and again in 1967 when my wife and
I set up home on the Norwich
side of the town for the next three years.
The main focal point in the town has to be the magnificent Market Cross, built in 1549 by Bishop Thirlby. Several bequests made contributions to the cost of the building: 1544, T Andrews gave 40/-; 1555, J Carver gave 12d; 1557, J Clark gave 6/8d, E Barleymass 2/- and T Palling also 2/-. Whilst in 1550, S Steen of Skeyton made a contribution towards the roof leading of 3/4d.
In June 1600 the Market Cross was damaged by fire, that ravaged most of the town, eventually being repaired by Bishop Redman. It was thoroughly restored to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. In 1930 the Market Cross was included in the list of Ancient Monuments, the preservation of which is of national importance, hence guaranteeing its future.
At the
time of the Great Fire in 1600, Sir William Paston, a local landowner and
benefactor, took the opportunity to purchase several fire-scorched areas upon
which to build his Grammar School, which was to provide free places of learning
for the young lads of Norfolk. The Paston School was duly founded in 1606
and remains there today as the Paston College, a sixth-form centre. For another
website of interest to Old Pastonians, please visit: www.pastonschool.co.uk
Rather like the hub of a wheel, with North Walsham at the centre,
it’s possible to travel by road north to Mundesley and along the coast
to Cromer and Sheringham; south to Norwich; west to Aylsham and east to Wroxham,
the Broads and Great Yarmouth.
In bygone days it was also possible to catch a train from either of the two stations in the town; North Walsham Main, to Norwich, Cromer and Sheringham, and North Walsham Town, to Great Yarmouth, Melton Constable and Mundesley-on-Sea. Today, only the Main station remains, a shadow of its former glorious self!
A great many of the shops, which were household names in North Walsham during the late 1960s, have disappeared now being replaced by computer shops, estate agents and the like.
During my time in the town there were such names as Fullers Department Store in the Market Place, selling almost everything from ladies fashions and curtain materials to all household goods, bedding and boxed gifts.
Then there were the chemists: R M Ling and Oliver & Griston, selling all manner of ‘beauty preparations’, medical supplies and sickroom requisites, as well as Kodak and Ilford cameras and also offering a developing and printing service! Next door to the parish church was Marjoram Bros.
“I can well recall being taken, by my mother, to the quaint little shop on the corner of the walkway to St Nicholas church to buy my school uniform. That would have been sometime during the summer of 1952, as I was to go to the Paston School at the start of the autumn term of that year. Marjoram’s was such an old-fashioned shop, with everything in trays that slid out of glass-fronted cupboards – and nothing seemed too much trouble! Soon, I was smartly-dressed for my new school.”
I certainly must not forget to mention Edwards & Son, bakers of Market Place, though better known to myself and countless Pastonians for their delicious ha’penny bread rolls they sold in their Norwich Road shop only a stone’s throw from our school and part of our permitted lunchtime route (necessary to keep us away from the nearby Girls’ High School!).
A great many other names spring to mind, gone now of course, so here are just a few: Newson Ltd, for radios and televisions; Black Cat Services, for coaches and taxis, petrol and MoTs; and Motique of Station Road, who so kindly obliged one Sunday in 1969 by replacing my faulty Morris dynamo!
MARJORAMS
Offered “Men’s wear of distinction”, as well as kitting me
out with my blazer, cap and tie complete with all the necessary badges and
buttons for the Paston School! Now an Estate Agents.
“I can well remember each year close to Founder’s Day, 20 October, when I was at the Paston School. We would process, out the back gate, to the parish church the other side of the Market Place and attend a service to honour Sir William Paston. At the end of the service, all the Masters and scholars processed by the Founder’s tomb, bowing our heads as we passed. Pleasant memories of a bygone age! Little did I know then, a decade or so later, I would be returning to North Walsham to set up home with Aileen, my wife!”
If you have enjoyed your visit to this website and would like further information about A Moment in Time or North Norfolk please contact:
Copyright © Ashley Gray 2008
The Webmaster would like to thank the Author of www.landofnurseryrhymes.co.uk and www.ukmagic.co.uk for kindly allowing music to be used from his sites.
ST
NICHOLAS CHURCH
The church was built during the middle of the 14th Century at the time of
great prosperity in North Walsham due to its flourishing wool trade.
THE
FOUNDER’S TOMB
Sir William Paston, founder of the Paston school, died on 20 October 1610,
and on the following day his wife’s corpse was disinterred at Paston
church and reburied beside him in his magnificent alabaster tomb.
THE
MARKET CROSS
Little seems to have changed in the two views (above), apart from the
partial pedestrianisation of the area.
A booklet published around 1969 by local printers Rounce & Wortley Ltd, then in North Walsham and Holt.
THE
CAT POTTERY
On Grammar School Road sells china cats and has a collection of railwayana!
