The utility of a Directory in so extensive and populous a city as Norwich, is so very obvious, that little need be said on its eligibility. The contents are so fully expressed in the title-page, and the arrangement of matter so well adapted to every capacity, that any explanation here would be offering an insult to the understandings of our fellow-citizens; as well as to the intelligent stranger, and inhabitant of any of the commercial towns, among whom, no doubt, a work of this kind cannot fail of being in great request.

This city, though abounding in opulence and fashion, has long laboured under great inconvenience on account of the difficulty of ascertaining, precisely, the address of its inhabitants, whether in trade or independent: and this has been chiefly owing to want of public Improvements. The vague and general name of a parish being the only direction to persons of every denomination; so that the enquirer may perambulate the boundaries of three or four adjoining parishes before he can ultimately determine; as it frequently happens that one side of a street is in one parish, the other in another. To remedy this, in some degree, the names of the streets have been put up in a few of the parishes; but even this has been done in so partial and improper a manner, that little benefit can accrue to the complainant.

That spirit of improvement so generally felt, has been greatly damped by the attention to, and gloomy appearance of, national affairs; but now that Peace, the much-favoured handmaid of Heaven, smiles on the industry of the citizens of Norwich, we hope they will, again, turn their thoughts to that very desirable object. We are well aware that there are persons who, holding every species of rational and polite advancement in contempt, are willing to creep through life without a single ray of light, that does not center in their own narrow focus of human perfection! To these, as lumber thrown from the stock of mankind, we recommend an emigration to the sandy plains of Arabia, or to the craggy mountains of Lapland. To be serious: the present publication has not only the merit of being highly useful to the mercantile and curious of this day, but may hereafter be remembered as having tended to the ease and ornament of posterity.

To find fault with the present without amending the future, is like discovering an evil we cannot specificly cure. We stoop not to such negative virtues; but will freely and respectfully submit our ideas to the consideration of the Police of this city, and to such other bodies and individuals as are therein concerned—under the appellation of

Hints for Public Improvements.

1. Every Street, lane, and thoroughfare, should have its proper Name, distinctly and correctly painted, and put up at the corner or entrance of each. To ascertain this, the church-wardens ought to consult authentic records and history, and not to be guided by the vulgar or temporary adoption of ill-informed persons. We have endeavoured, as much as possible, to be correct on this head; and, if found so, hope to be the humble means of governing this regulation.

2. The Houses in each street, &c. should necessarily be numbered. The mode of doing this, with precision, we have adopted, and doubt not but it will also become the general rule:—Beginning from the Market-place on the right hand, and returning on the left. It may, however, be found proper in some instances (as in streets remote, and in a contrary direction, from the market) to be guided by convenience and situation. We have had due regard to this; and have affixed the numbers accordingly.—? The best and cheapest mode of distinguishing the number of each house or shop, is by painted figures on the door, above, or on each side.

3. The hanging Signs in every part of the city should be taken down: they are not only very dangerous and disagreeable in windy weather, but interrupt the view, and impede the free circulation of air:—an object of the first consequence in a great town.

4. The Water-Spouts have been chiefly removed; but we wish to have them totally abolished; as indeed we do every public nuisance.

5. This, and most other ancient towns are horridly paved: and it is difficult, as well as expensive, to produce an alteration of so much consequence, as that of raising the cause-way in the middle, with channels and foot-paths (flag’d) on each side. Many of the streets in Norwich are too narrow to admit of this, but surely St. Giles’s Broad-street, St. Stephen’s-street, Ber-street, King-street, Magdalen-street, Coslany-street, Colegate-street, Upper Westwick-street, &c. &c. might be rendered handsome and commodious by a pavement, in the manner of Upper Surry street.

6. The improvement lately made in the Lower Close, though it met with much popular clamour and opposition, is very much to the honor of the worthy gentleman who formed the inclosed area, now called Lower Close, or Dean Square. If the stables on the south side were to give way to uniform dwelling-houses, the buildings would be more complete.

7. The ground that has been levelled and cleared in front of St. Andrew’s Hall, is one of the few improvements this city has lately received. Had the area been still more open and extended, the alteration had been more perfect.

8. As the road through the city is both difficult, dark, and dangerous, we would propose opening and widening such parts as might render the whole airy and easy of access. To this end, the great entrance to the Market place, through Brigs’s-lane, should be opened; at least, the turn from the Rampant-horse-street, or Horse-market, should be rounded, by taking away the corners. From the Market-place to the Red Well, the Cockey-lane and London-lane is so narrow and irregular, that frequent interruptions, and sometimes accidents, happen by carriages meeting. Persons on foot must squeeze themselves into a dark alley, or burst into a shop, to avoid being run over or crushed against the walls; whilst, in wet weather, you are drenched by torrents of water from the houses, or plunged into a gutter, knee deep.

If the Back of the Inns would admit of carriages, from the Hog-hill to London-lane, it would be a safer thorough-fare. The houses and stables on the west side are of little value, comparatively with the advantage; and the rents of good houses and shops on that side, would amply recompence the trouble and charge of rebuilding the street, at 25 or 30 feet width.

But, the readiest passage from St. Stephen’s to Tombland would be made by opening the lane above the Bell Inn on Hog-hill, across the Castle Ditches, to the Red Well. The houses on the west side of the lane, by Gurney’s bank, are much in decay: their removal, therefore, would be attended with every advantage of profit and ornament.

9. Supposing the communication to the Red Well opened, the area of waste ground, called the Castle Meadow, between the Castle-hill and King-street, would admit of buildings, on three sides, to form a very spacious and handsome square. This should be continued from the new buildings behind Gurney’s Bank to the Griffin-yard, where a large opening into King-street is much wanted. From this, the east side will extend along the back of King-street, and the south side terminate at the Duke Tavern. Within this, a considerable space might be pallisaded, and laid out in shrubbery and pleasant walks: leaving a foot-pavement and carriage road on each side. As neat and convenient houses of 15, 18, and 20 pounds yearly rent are much wanted in Norwich, for genteel small families, we have no doubt but Castle-Square would soon be inhabited by desirable tenants. Many other improvements might and would be made on the south-east side of the Castle Ditches, provided the above hints were adhered to.

10. It hath been proposed to inclose the Upper Close, in like manner as the Lower, but this, we understand, has not been done, on account of its being the Play-ground of the Grammar School. The Prebend’s Walk here is now become the fashionable Mall.

11. The most eligible situation for a public walk is Chapel-Field. Here every thing that taste and judgment could suggest might be done. Trees planted; walks raised and gravelled; seats placed at certain distances, and even a piece of water formed in the center. The inner parallel of the triangle railed, and a good carriage road on the outer.

12. In so large and opulent a city as this, we have long wondered that no attempt has been made, nor encouragement given, towards erecting a neat and commodious suite of Bath Rooms. The field behind the Bowling-Green, and fronting Chapel-field, is a proper situation for such a building; and bathing and exercise are equally conducive to health. To support the expence of these rooms, (which should consist of two cold or pleasure baths, and two Matlock, or warm baths, six or eight dressing-rooms, a hot bath, vapour bath, and a sweating-room; a public room for each sex, and other separate conveniencies) a perpetual or annual subscription should be entered into; and the terms, attendance, &c. put under such regulation, as might render the place fashionable, delicate, and salubrious.

13. If the City Gates were totally erased, the air and prospect, to and from the town, would be much improved. When cities were surrounded by walls and gates, the state of the times made such precautions necessary; but now that the system of war, and the police of the country is better understood and practiced, they become a nuisance, that smells rank in the nose of modern improvement! At least, if taking down the Gates be not thought necessary, the Walls, it is hoped, will be levelled.

14. Another great evil to be met with here, and in most towns, is, the church yards being consecrated to receive the bodies of the deceased. This practice is not only inconvenient and displeasing, but has often been the cause of pestiferous disorders. The putrid state of certain diseases, and natural decay of bodies, contribute to an infection, by air and humidity, that operates (though imperceptibly) on the lungs. If burial grounds were appropriated on Mousehold heath, and properly secured, the areas in which the churches now stand might be formed into handsome grass-plats, both for use and ornament.15. The Water-works at the New-Mills, if raised to a given height, by such methods as are in used such cases, would convey a supply of water to every part of the city, without the expence, trouble, and inconvenience of reservoirs on Tombland, in Chapel-field, &c. The supply would be more certain, defeats easier discovered, and, consequently, repairs sooner made. Beside, Tombland, cleared of that filthy building, would become a very elegant square. And here, speaking of this subject, we should also recommend the Red Well to be taken away, and the pump fixed elsewhere.

16. An opening to the Castle-ditches, from the east end of the Cockey lane, is much to be wished for: also one at the end of the White-lion-lane.

17. All the Bridges in the city are very narrow and decayed, and the avenues leading to them equally incommodious. New bridges of one arch each, and open streets, would be rendering the trade of this city, by land and water carriage, an essential service. At Black-friars, we are told, a new bridge is now under consideration. A bridge cross the water at the Duke’s Palace, would open a communication from the market, through the Dove-lane and St. John’s, to Colegate. But, at no place is a bridge more wanted than at King’s-street Gate; by which the time and trouble of going round by Bishopsgate Bridge would be saved to many.—N.B. The Island formed by the river at Coslany bridge, has been found to collect the filth of that neighbourhood, and, therefore, as a nuisance, ought to be removed.

18. Though Norwich has many excellent Inns, yet none of them are handsome or spacious. The Coffee-houses are sufficiently good, and the Boarding-houses reasonable; but there is great want of a Hotel and Tavern, to accommodate genteel families, parties, or persons of rank.

19. In the Market-Place, the Lower, or Gentleman’s Walk should be flag’d and posted off from the carriage way, for a parade, exchange, or place of business and pleasure. This, tho’ it might cost something considerable, would very much enhance the value of the shops and dwellings on the walk, and afford gentlemen and merchants an opportunity meeting to transact business, or to amuse themselves in walking and conversation. If a piazza or colonade was raised in front of the Guildhall, it would greatly add to the beauty and convenience of the market-place: as would also the taking away the houses on the east side of Weaver’s-lane; and, if possible, opening St. Peter’s Church.

20. The Saturday Market of Norwich has been long acknowledged the most commodious and plentiful in England; but if the different articles of provision on sale were classed and ranged methodically, into rows or lanes, crossing each other at right angles, such regulation would be attended with ease and satisfaction both to the buyer and seller.

Rome certainly was not built in a day, neither do we expect to see every thing done in Norwich that might and ought to be; but, we hope, no local or private consideration of emolument or prejudice, will be an impediment in the way of public improvement! Though the elegant plan of Sir Christopher Wren, for rebuilding the city of London, after the dreadful fire in 1666, was, through prejudice and ignorance, rejected, the citizens of London have seen, and regret, the evil consequences of narrow minds, and narrow streets! and have done as much towards the embellishment of that city, as time and opportunity would permit. That they are wealthy we allow, but then Norwich has its proportion of wealth, as well as its men of taste and talents to execute.