Royal Arcade, Norwich Explained

Royal Arcade
Opening Date:	1899
Architect:	George Skipper

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.^{[3] [4]}

Architecture

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

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.

Notes and References

1. Web site: ROYAL ARCADE, Non Civil Parish - 1205148 Historic England . 2024-03-17 . historicengland.org.uk . en.
2. News: Howse . Christopher . 2022-11-19 . Sacred Mysteries: The fortunes of Parson Woodforde's Angel . 2024-03-14 . . en-GB . 0307-1235.
3. Web site: Unthank . Reggie . 2023-01-31 . Plans for a Fine City . 2024-03-14 . COLONEL UNTHANK'S NORWICH . en.
4. Web site: Unthank . Reggie . 2016-03-12 . Skipper's Art Nouveau Building . 2024-03-14 . COLONEL UNTHANK'S NORWICH . en.