Article from Norfolk Fair - May 1971..... NORTH WALSHAM TOWN TALK Introducing an occasional review of the towns amenities and traders. by Jack Maddison Secretary of the North Walsham and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce NORTH WALSHAM is, I suppose, an old-fashioned town by present-day standards. When strolling through the Market Place, one is struck by the homely, friendly, atmosphere—people do not come just to do their shopping; a natter with friends and perhaps a cup of coffee in a nearby restaurant are all part of the ritual. Shopkeepers too, greet them as friends, not just as customers who are favouring them with their custom and the number of old-established businesses seems to prove that this policy pays off, several having been in the same family for seventy to a hundred years. Ling, the Chemists, are comparative newcomers, taking over the business in 1905, but records show that there was a chemists here in 1770 while Loades, the departmental store who came to their present premises in 1857, can claim the unusual distinction of having had until 1935 a Catholic Chapel on the premises. Of course, all good things are not necessarily old, the Rose Meadow Home for the elderly, Branch Library, Youth Centre, the Councils new flats, are all examples of good, modern architecture—good also in the sense that they all serve a very worthwhile purpose. Other signs of the marked progress are to be seen in the Shopping Precinct being built in Vicarage Street and the experimental one-way system operating in the Town. The latter is a bit of a mixed blessing; while allowing through traffic to get through to the North West at ever increasing speeds, it is making it more difficult for local people to motor to the shops. We welcome motorists who have been provided with free car parks within a hundred or two hundred yards of the Market Place so that they can enjoy a walk round our town and who knows, perhaps see something in a shop that captures their eye. This idea that they are always in a hurry to get somewhere else may not be the right one. As a result of an appeal by the Friends of the Hospital, our War Memorial Cottage Hospital has improved facilities and a larger womens ward, helping to cater for the increasing population, while the Veterinary Hospital is able to cater for their animals. The Community Centre is beginning to take shape, it is hoped to have Phase I, consisting of the Main Hall with stage, Committee Room, Lounge, Kitchen, etc., built, furnished and equipped ready for use by the Autumn. A lot of hard work has gone into fund-raising efforts during the last few years, this year the organising Committee have surpassed themselves. Events already arranged for the Open Weekend, Saturday, Sunday and Monday the 28th, agth and 30th August, include on Saturday morning an Olde English Fair in the Market Place, in the evening a Concert in the Girls High School, with Semprini and the Broad-land Singers. The band of the Queens Own Royal Border Regiment will give a concert in St. Nicholas Church on Sunday, while on Monday evening the Market Place will take on a mediaeval air with the roasting of an ox, Morris dancing and a dwoil flonking competition. The Secondary Modern School will again have an Antiques Fair on all three days. Browning said God made the countryside, but people made the towns. Pay us a visit and see what sort of job we have made of our town.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:40:46 +0000
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