Norwich Old and New (Reel Two of Four)

Captain Sandys-Winsch’s public parks, and Surrey Street’s bus station and Norwich Union HQ distinguish Norfolk’s capital, captured by amateur filmmaker Brian Cheesman.

This reel, part of the Brian Cheesman collection, focuses in the majority on the public parks in the city, particularly those set out by Captain Sandys-Winsch in the 20s and 30s, notably Waterloo, Eaton, Wensum, and Earlham Parks - the perfect site for a stroll, game of rounders, or push on the swings. The remaining minutes show the Surrey Street area of Norwich, its bus station, which is today very different, and Norwich Union Insurance HQ, which is very much the same!

Cine enthusiast Mr Cheesman lived on Sewell Road in Norwich. He never married, or had any children, neither did he have any siblings. He lived with his mother and father until their deaths (father 1959, mother c.1993) and was employed by Norwich Union throughout his entire working life. He was a member of a church on Constitution Hill, Norwich.