Norwich and District Film Review

Local newsreel featuring Bonds Department Store

This film begins with a general shot of Guildhall Hill in 1922. There is a policeman in the foreground and an open topped tram passes. The first subject of the film is the Bolton P15, an all steel aeroplane made by Boulton and Paul. The first sequence shows the construction of the plane in Boulton and Pauls' Norwich works. Women can be seen sewing on canvas. The plane is rolled onto the field at Mousehold aerodrome. The pilot, in a leather helmet, stands in front of the plane. The main subject of the film is another famous Norwich company, R.H. Bonds department store. This sequence begins with a static exterior shot of Bond's original drapers shop on Ber Street. The founder, an elderly gentleman, and the directors, two younger men, are filmed sitting on a bench. There is also a shot of Miss George, a long standing employee of the firm, who appears to be extremely old. Following these introductions there are further shots of the exterior of the store, extending along Ber Street. There are shots of the window displays and then a shot of a younger assistant. The interior of the store features at length. There are shots of the ladies dress department showing displays and customers browsing in the store. There is an overhead view of the glove counter, with two women seated, trying on gloves, attended by an assistant. There is a long shot of the milliners. There follows shots of six women, modelling a variety of hats available at the store. After another shot of the millinery department a further 4 models feature including one seated in a car. In the store, the hosiery and fabric departments are featured along with a display of bathing costumes. A lengthy sequence features the construction of the 'Tudor Arcade' at Bonds store. There is a static shot of the plans followed by a shot of a lorry loading rubble. A car passes and men are working in the background. There is a shot of the house that are semi-demolished and then scenes of the workmen constructing the arcade. Further exterior shots, this time of the All Saints Green side of the store, show the Thatched Cinema next door. A close up shot reveals advertisements for Ginger Mick and The Girl From Nowhere. The final scene of the film is (a very brief) shot of the Orchestra and then of their 'mascot', a parrot sitting on the hand of one of the musicians.

Featured Buildings

The Guildhall, Norwich; R.H. Bonds Department Store; The Thatched Cinema

Keywords

Department stores; Workmen

Intertitles

Bolton P15. All steel aeroplane.R.H. Bond & Sons Ltd. established in 1879.The Founder and Directors with Miss George who has been with the firm 44 years.In 1879 our employees numbered 10. In 1922 our employees number 50.Bathing costumes.Constructing the 'Tudor Arcade'.Bond means sterling value.The orchestra..And their mascot.

Background Information

Bonds started as a drapers shop at 19 Ber Street in 1879, Robert Herne Bond deciding to set up a business of his own having previously working with his brother in Chelmsford. The present store was opened in 1948, having been rebuilt following extensive damage in air raids in 1942. Bonds was sold to the John Lewis Partnership in 1982. The models shown in these sequences were all assistants in the Bonds' shop. This film was shown at the Thatched Cinema.The Thatched Cinema showed a mixture of music hall and films and closed in the early 1930s. The cinema never converted to show sound films. The film of the visit to Norwich of Edward VII was shown at the former Thatched Assembly Rooms, which became the Thatched Cinema. It was incorporated into the Bonds store as a ballroom and restaurant. It was also used for tea dances. This was destroyed during the Blitz also.An account of the early aeroplanes built at Boulton and Paul is given in Wings magazine, Vol. 2, Part 20 (1977.) Norwich And District Film Review.