Across Norfolk, many buildings which were once impressive architectural works have now fallen into disuse and disrepair, the sight of which is both haunting and intriguing. Here's a look at several such buildings in and around Norwich.
• Sovereign House
Once home to Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Sovereign House in Anglia Square has been empty since the 1990s. Built in the late 1960s, the building has been earmarked for demolition for years, in line with plans to revamp Anglia Square. These plans fell through in 2009 when the credit crunch hit and thus the building remains in place.
• 41, All Saints Green
The Grade II listed buildings was once and 18th century merchants house, but most recently was home to a dental practice. The building has been disused and boarded up since the late 2000s at which time the city council said they were reviewing its future use. The building still remains empty today.
• St Michael and All Angels, Bowthorpe
The earliest surviving record of St Michael and All Angels church is from 1304. The church is thought to have been abandoned by the 16th century and today only parts of the large building remain in ruins.
• St Andrew's Hospital, Thorpe St Andrew
The hospital, originally built in 1814, has over the years gone by various other names, including Norfolk County Asylum, Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe Asylum and Norfolk Mental Hospital. The site closed as an NHS hospital in April 1998 and today has mostly been demolished. All that remains are the original Grade II listed buildings which instead of being knocked down, are being converted.
• Pinebanks, Yarmouth Road
The former sports and leisure centre closed in 2008 and developers have since been lobbying to build new homes on the three acre site. The land was also home to Pinebanks House, believed to have been built between 1880 and once the residence of T C (Herbert) Jarrold, of the department store family. The oldest part of the house was destroyed in a fire in July 2014. Earlier this year, a secret World War Two Zero Station built on the order of Winston Churchill was discovered at the site, which has Special Protected Status to preserve and celebrate its history.
• The Former Eastern Electricity Board site, Duke's Wharf
The site, off Duke Street, has been vacant, except for use as a carpark, since 1999. Several plans have been made for the area's redevelopment over the years, but none have been successful. At present, Norwich property investment and development company, Targetfollow, have secured planning permission for a residential-led mixed use development on the site.
• Hill House and Harford Farm, Markshall Farm Road
Also known as Markshall Farm, this derelict site fell into disuse following the construction of the A47 bypass and has since been left to rot, with walls knocked out, graffiti everywhere and some severe fire damage. More recently it was discovered that the farm is on the site of an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, where several treasures, such as a gold and silver disc broach dating from around 610-650AD, were found and can be seen on display in at Norwich Castle.
• Do you know of any other derelict or disused buildings in the city? Email courtney.pochin@archant.co.uk
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