She posted her photo on Facebook and received an intriguing response from a friend who fervently believes that the building, where he used to work, is haunted.
So could this old industrial wharf and warehouse on Norwich riverside be the home of spooks and ghosts?
The wharf is on the south bank of the River Wensum and its history goes way back to at least the 13th century. It later became known as the Common Staithe and was the place where "foreigners" could unload and store their cargo. Foreigners or aliens were people who were not freemen of the city.
Apparently in 1474 an order specified that “all aliens bringing any merchandise by water shall lodge it at the Common Staithe and not elsewhere.”
The wharf continued to be important in the 18th century, when it was known as the 'Town Stathe'. From around 1896, until about 1912 the wharf was used by the ABC Steam Shipping Co. After this time the wharf saw limited industrial use. The warehouses that stands adjacent to the wharf were subsequently used by a variety of companies, including a firm of electrical engineers, Goodyear Tyres and a mineral water manufacturer.
By 1885 the site was malthouses owned by the Crown Brewery. The current building is a late 19th century grain warehouse with 20th century alterations to incorporate grainhoppers. It is timber-framed and constructed from corrugated iron sheeting.
So where do the ghosts come in. Well, posting on Facebook, a gentleman by the name of Mick Bowie, said he spent some time employed as a cabinet maker in the building.
He vividly remembers hearing footstep in an empty room and the sudden smell of old sulphur matches. He often felt pressure on his ankles and tools piled up in heaps on empty benches.
"You kind of got used to it. The owner of the firm always laughed it off, then one night (he worked funny hours) he was working in the upstairs sanding room at a bench with his back to the workshop, when he turned around the entire contents of the room was neatly stacked in the corner to the ceiling. He picked his keys off the hook and went home leaving all the lights and music system blaring out." Mick said.
This kind of thing certainly makes you view some of these old buildings in a new light.
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A few blogs ago I mentioned weird rather surreal dreams. Well last night I had another one. Prince Charles rang me up. I was producing the quiz show Celebrity Mastermind. He said he would like to be on the show and when I asked him what his specialist subject would be he said "The life of the Prince of Wales."
I went to my bosses with this wonderful coup and much excitement.
"The future King of England wants to be on celebrity mastermind," I said.
"That's wonderful," they replied. "What does he want as his specialist subject?"
"The life of the Prince of Wales," I replied.
They stared at me for a short while "But that means we will be asking him questions about himself and his own life," they said. Then I woke up!
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I'm delighted to say that the latest edition of Hethersett Herald - my e-magazine about the village is online at:
https://hethersettherald.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/9/3/11930148/villagemagmarch2021.pdf
Because February is a short month, it's been difficult getting this one completed on time but thanks to some blood, sweat and tears, I have made it.
Another thing I will make today is the completion of 1,000 miles of walking since I started recording distances on March 8th last year. I just have over a mile to do today. My February average was just under five miles a day which I'm also pleased with, Now to start running again.
* * *
Was very sad to hear of the death at the age of 85 of actor Johnny Briggs who had us all on the edge of our seats when he played Mike Baldwin in Coronation Street.
A number of blogs ago I wrote about getting his autograph at a charity cricket match in Norfolk.
Today the death of former Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder was also announced. He was only 65. I remember when he came to Norwich he had only recently recovered from a brain tumour. At the time I was on a supporter's representative group and we were asked along to meet the new manager. He wasn't somebody I really took to and I know that few Norwich supporters will mourn him but it is still a life taken too early!