Crowds celebrated as King and Queen arrived in Norwich

Members of the council were calling for new municipal buildings but they had to wait for another 30 years before a landmark City Hall was opened by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Opening of Norwich City Hall by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on 29 October 1938 (Image: Newsquest Archive)On October 29 1938 they arrived in the city to be welcomed by tens of thousands of men, women and children. It was a fitting climax to the end of the Civic Week.

This was described as the largest gathering of citizens in the history of the city when they stood in front of the big, bold and controversial City Hall waving and cheering.

Norwich Market Place at noon on Saturday 29th October 1938, the day the new City Hall was opened by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (Image: Newsquest Archive)It had been a huge city centre project which included a police station to replace “The Tin Hut,” and  a new-look market.

The First World War put an end to talks over the building and then, in the 1920s, architect Robert Atkinson put together his ideas for the development. A competition between architects took place and the winners were C H James and S Rowland of London.

A picture, taken in 1937, of a constable in his white helmet in front the old municipal buildings in Norwich before they came tumbling down to make way for the City Hall (Image: Newsquest Archive)Some people wanted it, others did not and the debate continued while the corporation attempted to raise a colossal sum of money needed. The whole project cost around £400,000.

A policeman stands guard outside the new City Hall as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth arrive, October 1938 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

The arguments were heated but eventually the money was found and the demolition men moved in. The original plans included flattening the Sir Garnet Wolseley public house but the architects asked for it to be saved…a wise move.

Hundreds of workers then set about changing the face of the city centre and during 1937 the building began to rise along with the new market place and road widening schemes.

Work under way on the new City Hall, taken between 1936 and 1937 (Image: Newsquest Archive)And then an invitation for the King and Queen to do the honours and spend the day in Norwich was accepted. Excitement was growing but before the official opening the hall already had an inhabitant. 

A black cat liked the look of the building and decided to have her kittens inside the walls. Big-hearted Lord Mayor Charles Watling moved them into his parlour for safe keeping then adopted one and found homes for the others.

Opening of Norwich City Hall by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on 29th October 1938. With Queen Elizabeth are the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Mr and Mrs Charles Watling) and Mr H Harper-Smith, Deputy Lord Mayor (Image: Newsquest Archive)Months of planning worked well. The opening was well organised with the King and Queen being given a rousing welcome. It seemed as if the whole city had turned out to watch the proceedings.

The King then went off to Carrow Road to watch the start of the game between the Canaries and Millwall – good job he left before the end. They lost 0-2

King George VI visits the Canaries at Carrow Road. It was the first time a reigning monarch had attended a Division 2 game (Image: Newsquest Archive)

The Queen headed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital to open the Geoffrey Colman Memorial.

Ranks of nurses welcome the Queen Mother as she arrived to open the Geoffrey Colman Memorial, the new maternity wing at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on October 29, 1938 (Image: Newsquest Archive)

Both then visited the world famous Lads Club before heading for the Mutual Service Club at Pottergate where they were met by Sir Earnest White – the man who helped lead the campaign for a new City hall.

Crowds wave as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth look across the sea of people from the balcony of Norwich City Hall, October 1938 (Image: Newsquest Archive)It was a perfect day but times were changing…

War was looming, shelters were being dug, gas masks were issued, young men were becoming soldiers. Hopes of peace were fading…and then, on  Sunday, September 3 1939 at 11.15am, people gathered round their radios to hear Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announce: “This country is at war with Germany.”