HIGH STREET HISTORIES are a series of of ten short 'film-talks' exploring Lowestoft's historic High Street, featuring conversations between Ivan Bunn and Dean Parkin. Starting from 16 August 2023, a new episode will be released weekly across the month and into September and October.
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Using archive photos, Ivan and Dean travel back in time and share the histories and back stories of the old buildings, lost houses, forgotten shops and the people who once lived there.
All episodes of High Street Histories have an accompanying worksheet, ideal for young people age 5-11, which can be downloaded (see the link beneath each film).
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HIGH STREET HISTORIES were produced by Poetry people and created and edited by Dean Parkin and feature archive photographs from Ivan Bunn, The Jack Rose Collection and The Bert Collyer Collection.
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16 Aug 2023 BBC News report — Lowestoft High Street history brought to life...
Lowestoft High Street, looking north, circa 1897. The only building still standing today is Arnold House (on the far left). The rest of this row was destroyed on 12 May 1943 in an air raid with the site later cleared and grassed and now known as the Town Green.
© Jack Rose Collection
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High Street Histories were produced in partnership with the North Lowestoft Heritage Action Zone and Historic England's Heritage Schools Programme. The North Lowestoft Heritage Action Zone was funded by Historic England and East Suffolk Council and delivered in partnership with Lowestoft Town Council, Lowestoft Vision and East Suffolk Building Preservation Trust.
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EPISODE 1 — Top End of the Street
The story of Arnold House (number 4 the High Street), the Town Green (the land adjacent to Arnold House), and the petrol station at the top of the High Street. Tune in and discover how this area of town used to look.
Download High Street Histories Worksheet 01
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EPISODE 3 — The Oldest House?
Ivan shares his research on what could be the oldest house in the High Street and the nearby hotel and the architecture of what replaced it.
Download High Street Histories Worksheet 03
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EPISODE 5 — The Fancy Draper
This episode starts at Crown House, the former home of Lady Pleasance Smith, and moves down the High Street to number 50, Frank Wheatley's, the draper.
Download High Street Histories Worksheet 05
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EPISODE 7 — Around Rant Score
Ivan and Dean take a closer look at the traditional shops located on the corner of High Street and Old Duke's Head Street and uncover possible the oldest photo of this area.
Download High Street Histories Worksheet 07
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EPISODE 2 — The Vicarage
A chance to visit the Vicarage which stood at the top end of the High Street on what is now Town Green and also explore the area south of 'The Royal Falcon' pub and how this section of High Street has changed.
Download High Street Histories Worksheet 02
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EPISODE 4 — A Visit from the King
Discover the history of 51 High Street, once a butchers shop and the variety of uses of the adjacent properties, along with the story of when the King came to town!
Download High Street Histories Worksheet 04
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EPISODE 6 — Next to the Blue Anchor
Time-travel back to the mid-1870s and the original 'Blue Anchor Stores', then on to 141/142 High Street, once a plumbers & decorators shop.
EPISODE 8 — Around The Globe
This episode pays a visit to 127-130 High Street in it's heyday as Devereux's Stores, before moving on to the Old Globe Inn and the iconic Flint House, built in 1586.
Download High Street Histories Worksheet 08
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EPISODE 9 — The Tailor & The Chemist
The time travellers take a closer look at 116 and 117 High Street; one of these buildings has changed beyond recognition due to World War Two.