What really struck me was how open and under-developed everywhere was. Not much traffic either! What a wonderful legacy George Plunkett has left for us!
I thought the same, especially when you compare to Google Street View nowadays. It all looked like Milton Keynes in the 60's! And you can see for miles without street furniture and traffic!
It shows how important it is to take what might seem like mundane photographs but which in time become an important historical record. Thank goodness Mr Plunkett did that and that you are now bringing it to life for us.
Wow - what a difference from today! Hardly any cars on the roads, and so much more space. I really enjoyed the video and the music accompanying it. Lovely old photographs from George Plunkett.
I travel most of these roads for convenience to get to certain areas of Norwich reasonably quickly. With hardly any traffic it must have a been a dream to motor along most of these roads.
One of my favourites that, John, thank you👍🏻 Recurring theme being wow, this was basically ‘out in the sticks’ at that time and also, my word the great trees are all saplings! What is odd though, is that despite junctions being different, roads much smaller and in some cases surrounding buildings differing, I believe I could identified over half of the pictures without any caption. Odd that🤔👍🏻
Very interesting comment, and yes I agree. It's why, for once, I didn't do comparative photos...they would have been superfluous and taken away from the magic of the original photos
The planners of the time had good vision to put this circular route in place. By the time that I started driving in Norwich in 1970 some parts of the ring road (north of city) were struggling to cope with the amount of traffic.
How clean and new everything looks. So open, really still out in the countryside. What a difference almost100 years has made, it makes you wonder what the next 100 will bring for our Fine City.
Absolutely fascinating. I grew up on Valley Drive in the1960s and 70s. Incredible what Heartsease Lane and Salhouse Road looked like around the time my parents were born!
@@traceyculyer5811 we were almost neighbours then. I lived at number 1 Riseway with my (half) brothers Steven and Jason. My mother is Cynthia and my late step father was Dick. Do you remember us at all?
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich so interesting seeing it all and very sad to see so little that hasn’t changed! I have a few Norwich books but would love to see more photos I speak to my family who tell me lots but would love to find out more or speak to people do you have any suggestions? Many thanks Amber
@@ambertempelaars2634 if you have any specific questions, you could email me at lostnorwich@gmail.com and I'll try to help or point you in the right direction.
Used to live out in Thorpe St Andrew, so would always pass the curvy wall on the way into the city and would never tire of seeing it. Great to see it in situ here.
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Also occurred to me about the lack of trees simply because the saplings hadn't grown yet. Now look at some of those roads - ! A good thing though as trees are beneficial and I like trees - !
Thanks for yet another wonderful video. Fascinating how much has changed in places, and so little in others. The Boulton & Paul building. Was that the airfield ? Or have I guessed wrongly.
Very forward looking (impressively so) of the authorities to plan this circular arterial route round the city. Did the main initiative come from the city council or the county?
That was wonderful! Was that a horse in the Colman Road photo? Your caption about the football ground; were you referring to the current ground or the Nest (which was a health and safety nightmare even by 1930's standards, now that's saying something). I recently cycled to Woodbastwick and rode back into Norwich via Thorpe St Andrew. Even on this ride I could see how the city's industrial and housing landscapes have changed.
Thanks for your comment. Ironically that's what I normally do with my videos, but with this one I just thought I'd simply do a tour of the ring road as it was in the 1930s, and leave it at that.
Yes, in the 1930s some new bits were added to some existing sections in order to complete the route shown in the video. Later Chartwell Road was added, and I think there was an intention to replace the section around Carrow Road but that never happened.
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Great video by the way i did have loads of old books with old photo's of norwich but i let someone borrow them and never got them back
Since doing this video and others around this time, I've discovered a few people don't appreciate the music! So in later videos I've largely avoided including music.
What really struck me was how open and under-developed everywhere was. Not much traffic either! What a wonderful legacy George Plunkett has left for us!
Indeed he has.
I thought the same, especially when you compare to Google Street View nowadays. It all looked like Milton Keynes in the 60's! And you can see for miles without street furniture and traffic!
@@simonpage3899 yes, the lack of street furniture (and the quaintness of what exists) is very noticeable.
So much better than today.
It shows how important it is to take what might seem like mundane photographs but which in time become an important historical record. Thank goodness Mr Plunkett did that and that you are now bringing it to life for us.
Thank you Simon, that means a lot 👍
I wish we could turn back the clocks, love theses old photos👏
Thanks very much for your comment.
Wow - what a difference from today! Hardly any cars on the roads, and so much more space. I really enjoyed the video and the music accompanying it. Lovely old photographs from George Plunkett.
The lack of cars, kids on bikes....a different world where the driver turning from Sprowston Road would cut the corner and no one would notice!
certainly didn't need the bypass back then!
Hard to imagine the ring road being so open and fresh! The view from the dereham road roundabout...
and you can count the cars in the video, possibly on one hand!
This was great! Thanks for sharing 😊 some places were so recognisable even though they were so different. Love it!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
I travel most of these roads for convenience to get to certain areas of Norwich reasonably quickly. With hardly any traffic it must have a been a dream to motor along most of these roads.
That's an interesting thought! A bit quicker than today!
Oh for a time machine and to be able to go back and see it for real...
If only.....!
Yet again, another fascinating insight into Norwich's past ,amazing .
Thank you!
I agree with the Stateside girls..... amazing how open it all was. Fascinating stuff John as usual.
Thanks Tim, I guess that where new bits of road were added in the 1930s , like where it was so open, it was really seen as a bypass.
Came across this channel when I needed it haha
Welcome!!
One of my favourites that, John, thank you👍🏻
Recurring theme being wow, this was basically ‘out in the sticks’ at that time and also, my word the great trees are all saplings!
What is odd though, is that despite junctions being different, roads much smaller and in some cases surrounding buildings differing, I believe I could identified over half of the pictures without any caption.
Odd that🤔👍🏻
Very interesting comment, and yes I agree. It's why, for once, I didn't do comparative photos...they would have been superfluous and taken away from the magic of the original photos
Wonderful video. I love George Plunkett photos. Crazy to see how built up Norwich is now.
I couldn't have made these videos without the support of George Plunkett's son, who gave permission for me to do so.
The planners of the time had good vision to put this circular route in place. By the time that I started driving in Norwich in 1970 some parts of the ring road (north of city) were struggling to cope with the amount of traffic.
Yes it was pretty impressive, and attractively done.
Oh wow, thats so much different, so open and under developed.
Thank you. As soon as I saw these pictures I knew I had to put them into a video!
this is a great post, well done
Thanks very much, glad you liked it 👍
Amazing photos of how undeveloped huge areas of the city were! You can’t squeeze a garden shed in around the majority of the ring road now!
Very true!
Absolutely loved it how times have changed great stuff 👍
Thank you!
How clean and new everything looks. So open, really still out in the countryside. What a difference almost100 years has made, it makes you wonder what the next 100 will bring for our Fine City.
Thank you - I wonder if the southern by-pass will become built up...it's already happening at Cringleford and Costessey.
God bless whoever decided to plant all those trees! What a difference they make to the city today. 🌳🌳🌳
Love your channel btw!
They certainly do! Thanks very much for your comment.
Excellent, as always.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for this.
Thanks for commenting!
Absolutely fascinating. I grew up on Valley Drive in the1960s and 70s. Incredible what Heartsease Lane and Salhouse Road looked like around the time my parents were born!
Thanks, I'm glad you found it as interesting as I did to make it.
So did I 1971
@@traceyculyer5811 hello Tracey I lived on Riseway Close!
I lived on Borrowdale Drive, opposite the Dip,. It was a lovey place to grow up ..@@kevintracey4644
@@traceyculyer5811 we were almost neighbours then. I lived at number 1 Riseway with my (half) brothers Steven and Jason. My mother is Cynthia and my late step father was Dick. Do you remember us at all?
As I Norwich taxi driver, I found this very enjoyable. Thank you
Thank you - one of the few people who can drive round there!
So much of the route instantly recognisable... in many locations not huge changes...others changed out of sight.
Exactly....and one very big difference is the lack of traffic!
This has to be one of my favourite videos 😊
Thank you, a lot of people like this one 👍
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich so interesting seeing it all and very sad to see so little that hasn’t changed! I have a few Norwich books but would love to see more photos I speak to my family who tell me lots but would love to find out more or speak to people do you have any suggestions?
Many thanks
Amber
@@ambertempelaars2634 if you have any specific questions, you could email me at lostnorwich@gmail.com and I'll try to help or point you in the right direction.
Wonderful. Give me those days anytime.
Ta very much.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.
Great video. 😊
Thank you!
Amazing, thanks. Wonder what it will be like in another 90 years.
Now that's an interesting thought....!
Me too!😱
How wonderful, lots of trees and yes under developed. and no cars. Children could play safely. Harvey Lane still has that curvy wall.
It does look peaceful, doesn't it!
Used to live out in Thorpe St Andrew, so would always pass the curvy wall on the way into the city and would never tire of seeing it. Great to see it in situ here.
Halfway through before there was a car - ! Interesting to film comparison journey today.
Yes, it might be just a bit busier!
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Also occurred to me about the lack of trees simply because the saplings hadn't grown yet. Now look at some of those roads - ! A good thing though as trees are beneficial and I like trees - !
@@simongee8928 yes that's true.
Thanks for yet another wonderful video.
Fascinating how much has changed in places, and so little in others.
The Boulton & Paul building. Was that the airfield ? Or have I guessed wrongly.
Hi Adrian, thanks again for your comment. Yes it was the airfield, and will feature again in my next video Lost Norwich - Airports, in two weeks time.
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich
Excellent! Something to look forward to.
👍👍
Very forward looking (impressively so) of the authorities to plan this circular arterial route round the city. Did the main initiative come from the city council or the county?
I honestly don't know.....but yes, with the subsequent developments it provided the first "by-pass"!
wish it was like this today
It would certainly be very much quieter!
That was wonderful! Was that a horse in the Colman Road photo? Your caption about the football ground; were you referring to the current ground or the Nest (which was a health and safety nightmare even by 1930's standards, now that's saying something). I recently cycled to Woodbastwick and rode back into Norwich via Thorpe St Andrew. Even on this ride I could see how the city's industrial and housing landscapes have changed.
Thanks for your comment. I can't actually see a horse! The football ground is Carrow Road, but a couple of years before NCFC took it on.
Nice to see Carrow Bridge with smooth tarmac...
Nearly 100 years ago!
It would be great if they the had the old and the new playing side by side ❤❤
Thanks for your comment. Ironically that's what I normally do with my videos, but with this one I just thought I'd simply do a tour of the ring road as it was in the 1930s, and leave it at that.
So quiet and sparse but judging by the width of the roads and the way the council houses were set back the planners knew what was coming
I guess so!
Anybody know where George Plunkett is buried, I would love to pay my respects to such a brilliant archive creating legend.
What a lovely comment. I don't know, but there is an email address on his website.
If only traffic was similar now
It would make things easier! Maybe 4am is the time to experience it!
I was told many years ago that The Ring Road was constructed by City Council using workers who were otherwise unemployed during the depression
Yes, in the 1930s some new bits were added to some existing sections in order to complete the route shown in the video. Later Chartwell Road was added, and I think there was an intention to replace the section around Carrow Road but that never happened.
Yes i think they did. My uncle worked on the road.@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich
Just shows how much countryside has now been lost to concrete! We will regret that, as a race.
Yes absolutely. This was the first ring road, and now there are more!
we certainly messed it all up,i grew up in norwich in the 60,s.very nice place to have a childhood.progress,thats laughable.thank you
Thank you for your comment. I guess once a new road is established, development will generally move out to it, and that's what happened here.
thank u
Are you janes husbund? Your name seems very familiar
No, not me!
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich no worries, loving the local history videos, keep up the good work!
@@alexanderoddy4916 cheers!
Looks like I was born to late to get the good years….
Quite possibly!
You could probably buy a whole housing estate back then for what some of those old houses are worth today 😂
I think you're probably right!
@@JohnAtkinsLostNorwich Great video by the way i did have loads of old books with old photo's of norwich but i let someone borrow them and never got them back
@@Lord-hoboco777 thanks! Very sad when people do that.
It’s almost rural So much nicer .
Agreed - it was the first circle around the then city.
😮😮😮😮
Pretty shocking I know!
,-🍎Wow!
Like covid lockdown
Yes indeed, guess so!
Why the awful music?
Since doing this video and others around this time, I've discovered a few people don't appreciate the music! So in later videos I've largely avoided including music.
Great content though, keep up the good work👍
Thank you!