Norwich at Work: People and Industries Through the Years

In virtually every street in Norwich you can see the legacy left by the city’s trade and industry over the centuries. Norwich at Work tells the story of its citizens’ working life and guides present-day visitors and residents alike through Norwich’s rich industrial architectural heritage. The book will take the reader on a journey from the prosperous Norwich of the Middle Ages, then England’s second largest city. It will chart the growth and decline of the textile trade and the emergence of new businesses such as brewing and footwear, as well as their eventual demise - in the first half of the nineteenth century there were twenty-seven breweries in Norwich and in the 1930s over 10,000 people worked in shoe and boot manufacturing in the city, including for famous names such as Clarks, Norvic and Bally. The twentieth century witnessed the boom of the media and financial services industries, including Norwich Union insurance (now Aviva). Other famous Norwich businesses such as Colman’s (mustard), Caley’s (chocolate) and Jarrold (department store) are also featured.

With a fascinating series of photographs and illustrations, Norwich at Work traces the story of the changing patterns of work in Norwich through the centuries. It will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this city in Norfolk.