Category Archives: Snapshots from the Archive

The Norwich Computer, 1957

Posted on 29 April 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

The City of Norwich, and its forward-thinking Treasurer, Mr A.J. Barnard, were pioneers in the application of computer technology to the work of UK local authorities and businesses. In 1953-4, Mr Barnard and his team began looking for an electronic … Continue reading →

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Norfolk Record Office’s Earliest Document: A Charter from William II

Posted on 13 April 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

The earliest document in the Norfolk Record Office is an undated charter from King William Rufus (William II, third son of William the Conqueror) to Herbert de Losinga, Bishop of Thetford in 1090 (DCN 41/16), granting ‘hunting rights and a … Continue reading →

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Longstanding Local Rivalry in the Herring Industry

Posted on 30 March 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

The rivalry between Great and Little Yarmouth and Lowestoft over the herring industry goes back hundreds of years, probably since the communities began. Herring was a high-protein food eaten in great quantities all over England, so anyone who controlled the … Continue reading →

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Twentieth Century Fashion: Norfolk designers, illustrators and manufacturers

Posted on 11 March 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

This week marks the start of Norwich Fashion Week 2016 and here at the Norfolk Record Office we hold many records of Norfolk’s clothing past, from shawls and silks, to shoes and handbags. While many of these industries have dwindled … Continue reading →

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Archive Sources: Health and Hospital Records at the Norfolk Record Office

Posted on 24 February 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

Spending time in hospital is not something most people enjoy and we rarely think about the history of these organisations or the sheer amount of records that hospitals create. Some of these are fascinating documents that can shed light on … Continue reading →

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Wombwell’s Travelling Menagerie: How animals have inspired art in the archives

Posted on 18 February 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

Visits by travelling circus companies were popular and eagerly anticipated in Norwich throughout the nineteenth century. Many of the early shows were menageries which displayed many different species of animal. Early menageries to visit Norwich included Polito’s, who displayed his animals … Continue reading →

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Catleughs of Lynn: How a tailor’s ‘shop log’ gives an insight into daily life and the outbreak of the Second World War

Posted on 28 January 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

When thinking about business records, you may think of account books or correspondence, factual accounts, which tell us little about daily life. This is far from the case, as the records of Catleughs of Lynn, tailors, outfitters and clothiers, amply … Continue reading →

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Medieval Stained Glass: How a Norwich business became the leading stained glass conservation firm in Britain

Posted on 21 January 2016 by elizabethjayne2015

Stained glass in Norwich and Norfolk has a particularly rich and interesting history.  In 2004 thanks to a partnership with the Town Close Estate Charity, the Norfolk Record Office acquired the archive of G. King and Son (Lead Glaziers) Ltd … Continue reading →

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