Then And Now Photos: The WWII Bombsite ‘Norwich Blitz’ Crossroads

Norwich, a historic city in the east of England, is known for its well-preserved medieval charm and fascinating history. However, on Dirham Road near the city center, there’s a reminder of a darker past connected to World War II. This place, often overlooked by passersby, still shows visible scars from the bombings that took place more than 80 years ago during the Norwich Blitz of 1942.

Peculiar House on Dirham Road

As you drive up Dirham Road and stop at the traffic lights, you might notice something odd. There is a row of houses beside a large Gothic church, but the house at the end of the terrace looks peculiar. The wall of this house extends in a strange way, as if another house had once been there, but was removed. The outside wall even has internal chimney flues visible, hinting at what had been there before. This is a remnant of the bomb damage from World War II.

The Norwich Blitz, which occurred in 1942, was part of the German retaliatory raids against several English cities. These bombings caused significant damage and loss of life in Norwich. When the Germans bombed the city, many buildings were destroyed. The house or houses at the end of this terrace were among those that were badly damaged and later demolished, leaving only a neat section of the next house’s front wall.

Moving to other features of the crossroads at Dirham Road, you will notice that all four corners have modern buildings or grassy patches, standing out among the otherwise older Georgian and Victorian buildings. Here is a look at what you can observe at this intersection:

A Modern Supermarket: One of the corners has a 1950s built pub that has now been converted into a Tesco Express supermarket. This building replaced one of the bombed structures.

Grassy Open Space: Across the road from the supermarket is a large grassy area with advertising billboards. This empty space is a clear indicator that buildings once stood here but were never rebuilt after the bombing.

A Contemporary Building: On another corner, you will find a very modern building next to Victorian houses. Like other buildings in the area, this structure occupies a spot where previous buildings were destroyed.

Digging into the history of these bombings reveals the extent of the damage. In April and June 1942, German forces bombed Norwich, targeting areas like Dirham Road. The attacks were part of a larger campaign against several historic English cities. These raids, known as the Baedecker Blitz, aimed to undermine civilian morale by hitting cities known for their cultural and historical significance.

Impact of German Air Raids on Norwich

During these raids on Norwich, the German bombers dropped high explosives and incendiaries, which caused extensive fires. A total of 229 residents lost their lives, and over a thousand were injured. Many historic buildings, including important churches, were destroyed. Additionally, out of 35,000 homes in Norwich at the time, 2,000 were fully demolished, and 27,000 were damaged to some degree.

Detailed records from the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens, who logged bomb hits, show the extent of the destruction at the Dirham Road and Higham Road crossroads:

Bomb Hits Adjacent to the Church: At least two bombs landed on houses next to the Baptist Church, heavily damaging both the church and the neighboring terraced houses. These houses were burned out and later removed, except for the standing section of the outer wall.

The Dolphin Pub: A notable landmark, the Dolphin Pub, once stood opposite the church. It was destroyed by a direct hit and subsequently demolished.

Grass Area Across the Road: The grassy area that was once the British Gas Light Company building lies opposite the pub’s location. This building was completely demolished in the bombing and was never rebuilt.

Redeveloped Corner Buildings: Finally, another set of buildings at the crossroads was flattened during the bombings but later redeveloped post-war.

Today, as Norwich continues to develop and expand, these remnants of the past remain. They are silent witnesses to a significant chapter in the city’s history.

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