Royal Arcade, Norwich

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Royal Arcade
The Royal Arcade's east entrance, featuring Parson Woodforde's Angel above
Map
Coordinates52°37′41.52″N 1°17′38.4″E / 52.6282000°N 1.294000°E / 52.6282000; 1.294000
Opening date1899
ArchitectGeorge Skipper
Websiteroyalarcadenorwich.co.uk

The Royal Arcade is a grade II* listed[1] shopping arcade in Norwich's city centre which runs from Norwich Market on its west side to the Back of the Inns.[2] It was architected by George Skipper, designed by William James Neatby of Royal Doulton, and built in 1899 on the site of the former Royal Hotel and Angel inn.[2][3][4]

Architecture[edit]

The white surfaces of the arcade are largely made from Carrara Ware ceramics from Royal Doulton.[3]

Above the east entrance of the arcade, on the site of a former inn named the Angel, sits Parson Woodforde's Angel, an Art Nouveau style depiction of an angel also sculpted from Doulton's Carrara marble. The Angel is named after James Woodforde who, in his diaries in 1775, described Norwich as "the finest City in England by far". Woodforde, when he travelled to London, set off from Norwich from the Angel, and often took coffee or supped at the inn also.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ROYAL ARCADE, Non Civil Parish - 1205148 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Howse, Christopher (19 November 2022). "Sacred Mysteries: The fortunes of Parson Woodforde's Angel". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b Unthank, Reggie (31 January 2023). "Plans for a Fine City". COLONEL UNTHANK'S NORWICH. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  4. ^ Unthank, Reggie (12 March 2016). "Skipper's Art Nouveau Building". COLONEL UNTHANK'S NORWICH. Retrieved 14 March 2024.