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 also guides present-day visitors and residents alike through Norwich’s rich, industrial built 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 19th century there were 27 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 20th (and 21st) century witnessed the arrival of the media and financial service industries including Norwich Union insurance (now Aviva). Other famous Norwich businesses such as Colman’s (mustard), Caley’s (chocolate), and Jarrold’s (department store and former printing business) 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 to today. It will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this city in Norfolk.