Tina talks about her experiences with Wensum Lodge, both as a social place and a venue for classes.
Background
I was born in Thorpe Hamlet in Norwich and I’ve lived in Norwich all my life. I only moved away for college, where I trained as a teacher. I went to art school in Yarmouth, but I always wanted to teach. I did art as my main course when I was at teacher training college – it is a good way to get through to little children.
First memory of Wensum Lodge
My very first memory of Wensum Lodge was in 1967, when I was 17. I was asked to an art school party, which was being held at Wensum Lodge (though I didn’t know it was called that then). I was taken down King Street, not knowing about its notorious side. We went to a tiny little pub called the Ship. It had a piano and old locals sitting at the bar. The door was open and you could see out to this beautiful white building with a very small arch door. As I sat in the pub, I watched all these people disappearing through the door. They were dressed in cloaks and military uniforms which they obviously got from somewhere like Kensington market. It was the time of the Beatles and Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
It was our turn to go through the little door. I thought ‘what happens when you get in,’ because it seemed tiny. We went down some steps into a place like a crypt. It had a very low ceiling. It was smoky and crowded, with very loud music. Only being 17, I’d never seen anything like it before in my life. I thought ‘well how are we going to get out if there’s a fire.’ It was all very exciting. I now know that the lovely white building was called the Music House, which is part of Wensum Lodge.
Jurnet’s Bar
The crypt-like place became Jurnet’s Bar later on in its life. I went to several open mic sessions there. Later on, in the last ten years, we used to go there to listen to a friend of minew ho was a musician, which was lovely.
Wensum Lodge classes
I went as a learning experience to do batik classes at Wensum Lodge. There was a very good teacher a successful batik artist. It would have been about 1972-1973. On the course there were about eight to ten people, all different ages. I loved doing batik. The classes did cost, but I don’t think it was a lot of money. I was teaching then so I could well afford it. I did the classes for about two years and carried on doing batik by myself at home. I then got married, had children, and didn’t have the time to do it.
Wensum Lodge offered lots of creative courses. I knew people who went to do silversmithing and pottery. My husband John did his counselling courses there. Schools used it as a venue too. I did inset day teaching courses there and maths. It was a beautiful venue. I remember there were nice refreshments in the intervals too.
There was a drama group that used to put on performances in Wensum Lodge. I friend has got a poster of one of their plays and I remember going to see one or two of them in the big room above the Music House that was like a little theatre. It was well used. And people played badminton and squash in the Sports Hall.
It was always there, Wensum Lodge. I think it’s terrible that it’s not there anymore. I can’t believe it, really.
Tina Allen (b. 1949) talking to WISEArchive on 12th February 2025. © 2025 WISEArchive. All Rights Reserved.
