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Roof Wetting Ceremony of the New Norwich Union Building

1960 , Norwich (Norfolk)

Cat no. 212320

A mute Anglia Television report, Lord Townsend is winched up to the roof of the new Norwich Union building to help perform the traditional roof wetting ceremony.

A visibly nervous Lord Townshend, Chairman of Anglia Television and Norwich Union board member, is strapped into a sturdy chair ready to be lifted eight stories, via crane, to the top of the new Norwich Union building. After uttering a few 'last' words, Townshend tips his hat and is winched up to a dizzying height. Landing safely on top of the building, Townshend begins the ceremony by rising the Union Flag, as a crane arm swings a barrel of beer around, spilling its contents everywhere in a tradition to celebrate the waterproofing of a newly built roof. Afterwards, a crowd gathers at the bar for a round of celebratory drinks, and Townshend is interviewed by Anglia correspondent David Thurlow.

Featured Buildings

Norwich Union building, Norwich

Keywords

Architecture; Building; Ceremonies; Construction

  • Production company : Anglia Television

  • Interviewer : David Thurlow

Manifestations

Roof Wetting Ceremony of the New Norwich Union Building

  • Barcode
    INV368621
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:02:19
    Modification Date
    25/11/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    734419
  • Barcode
    INV320819
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:02:19
    Modification Date
    31/08/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    725161
  • Barcode
    INV363184
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:02:19
    Modification Date
    31/08/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    724348
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV388695
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    DV digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:02:19
    Modification Date
    10/05/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    707671
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV188999
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    master digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:02:21
    Modification Date
    23/03/2009
    Parts
    Reference
    679292
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV176552
    Canonical Identifier
    2006/1002
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Details
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Colour Type
    bw
    Duration
    0:03:00
    Has Image
    Y
    Has Sound
    Y
    Identifier
    Image Polarity
    unknown
    Modification Date
    20/03/2007
    Parts
    Reference
    583247
    Sound
    sound
    Sound System
    mag stripe

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