Nostalgic East: Carrow Road
Mr George Swain, Norwich photographer, flew over Norwich City F.C.'s ground at Carrow Road many times, but has never been able to get a satisfactory picture owing to industrial haze. On Saturday conditions were different, however, and he secured this striking view while Norwich were losing to Gillingham by two goals to one, dated in the 1950's. Photo: Archant Library - Credit: Archant Library
Just a short walk from the train station stands Carrow Road, the home of Norwich City Football Club, one of the cities greatest sources of pride.
The construction began on the stadium in June 1935 after the club's previous home 'the nest' was deemed not fit for purpose by the FA. The name was taken from the street that encloses three sides of the ground.
The stadium's was described by club officials at the time as 'the eighth wonder of the world'. The build was completed in a somewhat miraculously timeframe of just over 80 days in order to be ready for the start of the 1937-38 season.
There has of course been a great deal of work done to the stadium since but like much of the city the stadium retains its historic roots in small ways. Including the retaining the Barclay stand name in honour of Evelyn Barclay, the vice-president of Norwich City at the time.
In 1956 the addition of floodlights, at a £9,000 cost, nearly bankrupt the club. However City's FA Cup success saved the club from financial ruin.
In the decades following the Ibrox stadium disaster in 1971 much work was done to the stadium to ensure it was up to safety standards and the standing sections were slowly phased out.
The pitch itself has seen great development over the years with £700,000 ploughed into its maintenance in 2004, which included giving the pitch under-soil heating to remove snow and ice from the playing surface.
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Carrow Road has seen much change in its over 80 year history but the one thing that has never changed is its importance as a local landmark to the people of Norwich.