ROW TWO
*1
Black Horse Row *2
Bird in Hand Row*2
Row 2 runs back parallel to Row 1, from Northgate
Street to North Quay. It was called Black Horse Row from the public house
at the east end, the pub which had previously been called the "Bird In
Hand", and later was called the "East and West Flegg".
The row was divided half way down by a cross row.
The large building past the first house was Lacon’s
Malt House.
In the 18th. century there were really quite a lot of
gardens in this row, but most of the
open spaces were filled in very tightly during the following century. Indeed during
the next half-century most houses look as though they front on to Laughing
Image Corner. As far as the west half of the row is concerned, those dwellings
which front on to Row 2 were exceedingly small, several of them built within
the spaces of the previous gardens, a habit which persists today, although regulated
at least some of the time by the Planning Committee.
Row 2 is just a narrow alleyway now, running a short
distance between the "Golden House" and the Standard Motorist Centre.
Part of the old row wall still exists there however, and is exposed on the
north side; also, as can be seen from the photograph, the cobblestones are still to be
seen.
Between Row 2 and Row 3 are Pitman's and the Laundromat,
both parts of the same building, and then no. 25 Northgate Street, is W.W.Bells
the family butchers. In 1990, Row 2 was blocked as previously stated by the
wall at the back of the Motorist Centre, which surrounded their car park. But
if one takes a turn to the left behind the buildings of Northgate Street, near
to the Chinese Takeaway, one then passes up a small passage into a yard with
some very old flint and brick walls of which there is also a portion at the
back of the Chinese Takeaway. The old wooden beams in the walls are visible in places,
and clearly are at present supporting the building over the top of the row. The
Chinese takeaway is called the "Hong-Kong Palace", and is no. 27
Northgate Street. Pitman's the General Store
is no. 26 Northgate Street. This is also an off- licence selling wines and
spirits. No. 26 Northgate Street is Mr. Wishee-Washee's Laundromat, proprietor
P.Wilson, so clearly nothing to do with the Chinese, 2 doors up. It has a large
number of industrial-sized washing machines, and also a dry cleaning machine. Many
persons in this area clearly do not as yet have their own washing machines.
Several houses in this part of Northgate Street have been given over to D.H.S.
tenants. They are accommodated in single roomed bedsit "flats", which
are no asset to the town.
Looking at the 18th.C. Map, it shows on the north side of this row perhaps one dwelling,
along with some open space in the
eastern half, and what may well represent a range of about 3 cottages joining onto the White Swan. The 1886
directory refers to some malthouses, and then lists ten inhabitants, as
representing ten inhabited dwellings. Strangely, in 1913 only inhabitants of
numbers 22-25 are listed, but are on the south side, whereas in 1936 numbers
11,12 and 13 were also listed.
Lacon's malthouse on the west, and other malthouses up at the east end
of the row are clear enough.
Plaque that was on Lacon’s Malt House.
Another photograph (not shown) shows no. 5 North Quay,
and the backs of two houses, clearly approached from row 1, but which were
numbered as 19 and 20 row 2. The malthouse as rebuilt in 1912 went right across
to row 3, completely across the row, making it impassable beyond the cross row,
2a. Eva Newark (Twine) has confirmed
the numbering on the plan*3. Johnson said in 1927, that the row was called
after the public house at the
north-east corner. There were
fish-houses on the north side, now demolished. Lacons Maltings were erected
blocking the row in 1912.
*1 Palmer gives no name
*2 Johnson
*3 see row 3
