They are memories of the days when they were owned by local people and provided work for generations of men and women.

Across Norwich, there was Chamberlins, Buntings (now Marks & Spencer), Bonds (John Lewis), Garlands, Curls (Debenhams), Frank Price, Caley’s (not the chocolate factory), Green’s, Willmott’s, Trevor Page & Son, Walter Little and so many more.

They would support the local community in many different ways, helping charities and good causes, sponsoring local events and providing work for so many people.

And then there is the great survivor – Jarrold(s).

This was an outing with a difference. Members of the Jarrolds Angling Club flying off from Norwich Airport for a fishing match against a Dutch printing firm from Hilversum in 1970. Sad to report they lost (Image: Jarrolds archive)

The grand department store, which opened in 1840, stands in the heart of the city on the corner of London Street and Exchange Street, later remodelled by the brilliant architect George Skipper.

It was back in 1770 when John Jarrold established a drapery and grocery business in Woodbridge.

A specially chartered train from Liverpool Street to Norwich Thorpe Station to mark the  bicentenary of the company in 1970 (Image: Supplied)

He died five years later and his son, also John, took over the business.

He later set up a printing business and then in 1823, with his son, he moved to Norwich.

With a handy sum of £7,000, he opened an account at Gurney’s Bank and established Jarrold & Son, a printing, bookselling, binding and stationery business in Cockey Lane (London Street).

Branches would later open in Cromer, Great Yarmouth, Sheringham and Lowestoft but it wasn’t just the business which made the Jarrold family so popular.

Eileen Birch poses with a photograph of the Jarrold girls on Caister beach at a pensioners’ celebration in 2010. She spent half a century with the company and stated, “It was a wonderful place to work.” (Image via Newsquest)

They reached out to support the people.

Five years after the opening, John assisted in the establishment of a Sunday school in impoverished Pockthorpe, and community service continued, with family members taking an active role in life throughout the city and county.

I remember talking to 82-year-old Eileen Birch at a Jarrold tea party for retirees in 2010, and she showed me a photo of herself on the beach at Caister with other Jarrold girls when she was 18.

The Jarrolds Bathing Belles on Caister beach in days gone by (Image: Eileen Birch)

She began working for the company at the age of 14 and stayed for 50 years, where she met and married her husband Jack, the basement level manager.

“It was a wonderful place to work, just wonderful” she said.

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