# Carrow Works > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Carrow_Works > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Carrow_Works.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrow_Works > Source revision: 1340568710 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Former factory in Norwich}} {{Use British English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox factory | name = Carrow Works | image = -2018-05-18 Colman’s Carrow Works next to the river Wensum, Norwich.jpg | caption = The Works next to the [River Wensum](/source/River_Wensum) | area = {{cvt|40|acres|ha}} | coordinates = {{coord|52.62|1.31|display=inline,title}} | built = 1854-1856 | industry = | products = [Mustard](/source/Mustard_(condiment)), [soft drinks](/source/soft_drinks), [modular buildings](/source/modular_buildings) }} '''Carrow Works''' is a former factory site in [Norwich](/source/Norwich), England previously owned by condiment manufacturer [Colman's](/source/Colman's). The site covers 40 acres,{{Cite news |last=Storey |first=Eleanor |date=19 March 2024 |title=Plans for homes on former Colman's site in Norwich set to be rejected |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-68605010 |access-date=19 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319200552/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-68605010 |url-status=live }} and several of the buildings within its bounds are [Grade II listed](/source/Listed_building) including Carrow House. The house's Grade II* listed conservatory, as well as the Grade I listed [Carrow Abbey](/source/Carrow_Abbey), also exist within its bounds.{{NHLE|num=1372826|access-date=21 February 2026|grade=II|desc=Carrow Works blocks 7, 7A, 8A and 8 including metal canopy attached to block 7|orig-date=8 April 1986}}{{Cite news |last=Storey |first=Eleanor |date=19 March 2024 |title=Plans for homes on former Colman's site in Norwich set to be rejected |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-68605010 |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=22 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322203628/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-68605010 |url-status=live }} In production for 165 years, the site has had an historic impact on the industry and character of Norwich.{{Cite news |date=22 May 2020 |title=Farewell to historic Colman's factory in Norwich |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-05-22/farewell-to-historic-colman-s-factory-in-norwich |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=[ITV News](/source/ITV_News) |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321222613/https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-05-22/farewell-to-historic-colman-s-factory-in-norwich |url-status=live }} == Background == {{Further|Carrow Abbey}} In 1146, [Stephen, King of England](/source/Stephen%2C_King_of_England) granted land in Carrow (then known as Carhowe) to the nuns of the Church of St Mary and St John for the founding of a [Benedictine](/source/Benedictines) [priory](/source/priory). At a point between 1503 and 1535, Isobell Wygun, its penultimate [prioress](/source/Prior_(ecclesiastical)), built a new house for herself, substantially reworking the priory's west range. However, after the [dissolution of the monasteries](/source/dissolution_of_the_monasteries), the priory largely fell into ruin, apart from the prioress' house which had been given to [Sir John Shelton](/source/Sir_John_Shelton) by [Henry VIII](/source/Henry_VIII). It came to be known as [Carrow Abbey](/source/Carrow_Abbey), changing ownership several times before being acquired by a Norwich surgeon, [Philip Martineau](/source/Martineau_family), in 1811. == History == === Use by J & J Colman Ltd === Land to the north of the Carrow Abbey estate was purchased from the Norfolk Railway Company by [J & J Colman Ltd](/source/Colman's) in 1850, and the business began to move from its former mill at [Stoke Holy Cross](/source/Stoke_Holy_Cross). Jeremiah James Colman, the son of the business' founder Jeremiah Colman, was influential in the expansion of the business here following his joining of the partnership in 1851. At one point from 1854 to 1856 a mustard mill was erected at the site beginning an official movement onto the site; it is now demolished. Later, [flour](/source/Gristmill) and [starch](/source/starch) mills, [granaries](/source/Granary), warehouses and workshops, and a counting house in 1857, were built. JJ Colman finished building a family home on the site in 1861, and in 1862 the move from the Stoke mill was fully finished. [[File:Unknown artist - View of Carrow Works and the River Wensum, Norwich - NWHCM , 1942.19 , F - Norfolk Museums Collections.jpg|thumb|A painting of Carrow Works by the [River Wensum](/source/River_Wensum), circa 1870|left]] J & J Colman Ltd acquired further adjacent land in the late 19th century, including the Carrow estate from the Martineau family, and more factory buildings were built, with several being rebuilt after a large fire in 1881. Also in the late 19th century, Carrow Works gained a local [football](/source/Association_football) team of the same name.{{Cite journal |date=2008-12-01 |title=Early action: founding and furthering clubs |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14660970802181327 |journal=Soccer & Society |language=en |volume=9 |issue=5 |page=644 |pages= |doi=10.1080/14660970802181327 |issn=1466-0970|url-access=subscription }} The roof of one of the blocks was replaced after being damaged during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), and metal bridges and chutes were added between the buildings during the 20th century. All four blocks that made up the factory seemingly closed during the 1990s. === Closures and redevelopment plans === On 15 December 2017, co-owner of the site [Britvic](/source/Britvic) confirmed that it would close its operations at the Norwich factory, where it produced [Robinsons](/source/Robinsons_(drink)) and [Fruit Shoot](/source/Fruit_Shoot) drinks, instead moving to [Rugby](/source/Rugby%2C_Warwickshire), [east London](/source/east_London) and [Leeds](/source/Leeds). At the time, Britvic employed 249 people at the site. [Unilever](/source/Unilever), which owns Colman's, had already stated that it may close its own operations if Britvic left the site.{{Cite news |date=15 December 2017 |title=Britvic confirms Norwich factory closure |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-42373062 |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321224115/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-42373062 |url-status=live }} [Modular building](/source/Modular_building) construction company Beattie Passive then moved into the site,{{Cite web |last=Grimmer |first=Dan |date=22 April 2023 |title=From juices to houses... city's former Britvic factory now being used to build homes |url=https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/juices-houses-citys-former-britvic-163000075.html |access-date=26 March 2024 |website=[Yahoo! Finance](/source/Yahoo!_Finance) |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326230437/https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/juices-houses-citys-former-britvic-163000075.html |url-status=live }} though the company filed a notice of administration in March 2024 and halted production.{{Cite web |last=Grimmer |first=Dan |date=25 March 2024 |title=Jobs at risk as Norwich factory halts work and files administration notice |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24208519.norwich-beattie-passive-files-notice-administration/ |access-date=26 March 2024 |website=[Eastern Daily Press](/source/Eastern_Daily_Press) |language=en |archive-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240325165142/https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24208519.norwich-beattie-passive-files-notice-administration/ |url-status=live }} In January 2018 [Unilever](/source/Unilever) also announced it would end Colman's production in the factory, which at the time employed 113 people, instead moving to factories in [Burton-on-Trent](/source/Burton_upon_Trent) and [Germany](/source/Germany); this was further confirmed in March of that year.{{Cite news |date=4 January 2018 |title=Colman's to leave Norwich base after 160 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-42569750 |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321135541/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-42569750 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=28 March 2018 |title=Colman's Norwich factory closure in 2019 confirmed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-43569643 |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321135540/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-43569643 |url-status=live }} On 24 July 2019 the final jars of mustard were produced by the factory; their [best before dates](/source/Expiration_date) were replaced with "Norwich's Last. By Its Finest. July 24th 2019",{{Cite news |date=25 July 2019 |title=Last Colman's Mustard jar rolls off Norwich production line |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-49119530 |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240321135540/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-49119530 |url-status=live }} and they were gifted to the employees at the site. On 22 May 2020, the site closed, ending over 160 years of production by Colman's in the city.{{Cite news |date=22 May 2020 |title=Colman's Mustard factory in Norwich closing after 160 years |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-52772491 |access-date=19 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319223858/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-52772491 |url-status=live }} In August 2023, details were revealed about a new housing development proposed for the site that would have included the building of 1,859 properties, including 143 houses plus business and community space.{{Cite news |last=Scotter |first=Kate |last2=Thompson |first2=George |date=18 August 2023 |title=Norwich: Vision for former Colman's factory site revealed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-66544365 |access-date=19 March 2024 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB |archive-date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319223859/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-66544365 |url-status=live }} The plans were expected to cost £460 million. These plans were scrapped in March 2024 by [Norwich City Council](/source/Norwich_City_Council), which cited a breakdown in communications with developers Fuel Properties and concerns over the project's environmental impact.{{Cite web |last=Storey |first=Eleanor |date=21 March 2024 |title=Major 2,000 home development scrapped despite last-ditch plea from developers |url=https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24201775.carrow-works-project-scrapped-norwich-city-council/ |access-date=26 March 2024 |website=[Norwich Evening News](/source/Norwich_Evening_News) |language=en |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326230438/https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/24201775.carrow-works-project-scrapped-norwich-city-council/ |url-status=live }} == Carrow House == {{Multiple image | total_width = 400 | image1 = Carrow House - geograph.org.uk - 5776782.jpg | image2 = Boulton and Paul conservatory at Carrow House - geograph.org.uk - 5776805.jpg | footer = Carrow House (left) and its adjoining [Boulton & Paul](/source/Boulton_%26_Paul_Ltd) [conservatory](/source/Conservatory_(greenhouse)) (right) }} Carrow House was the Victorian residence of the Colman family during their occupation of the factory site.{{Cite web |last=Sennitt |first=Owen |date=4 November 2025 |title=Norwich venue at former Colman factory site to host events |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czxk188y98xo |access-date=21 February 2026 |website=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |language=en-GB}} It is a large two-storey [Italianate](/source/Italianate_architecture) style [villa](/source/villa) constructed of [gault](/source/gault) brick in [Flemish bond](/source/Flemish_bond) with stone dressings and a [slate roof](/source/Roofing_slates), with an attic and basement. It is positioned on a raised but sloping site with a long, rectangular plan.{{NHLE|num=1292106|access-date=21 February 2026|grade=II|desc=Carrow House|orig-date=8 April 1986|date=21 December 2021}} On the south-west corner, the site has an adjoining conservatory made from [hardwood](/source/hardwood) and [cast iron](/source/cast_iron).{{NHLE|num=1479038|access-date=21 February 2026|grade=II|desc=Conservatory at Carrow House|date=21 December 2021}} The house was extensively rebuilt under Jeremiah James Coleman in 1860 and 1861, with correspondence suggesting that this had involvement from architect [Edward Boardman](/source/Edward_Boardman) and local ironmonger [Barnard, Bishop & Barnards](/source/Barnard%2C_Bishop_%26_Barnards). Internal wood carving during this development was the work of James Minns. It became the Colemans' family home. The site is raised which would have allowed him to see his business to the north-east. In 1895, the building was given an extension and a conservatory by [Boulton & Paul Ltd](/source/Boulton_%26_Paul_Ltd), and in 1908 a small [walled garden](/source/walled_garden) with a fountain and seating area were added to the conservatory's south-east. The house was converted into offices for Coleman business use in 1922, and at some point after 1928 two small single-storey extensions were built on each side of the west front main entrance. New Carrow House, a five-storey office block, was built to the north and connected to Carrow House in 1959. The house became a Grade II listed building in 1986, and the conservatory was Grade II* listed in 2021. City council bought Carrow House from [Norfolk County Council](/source/Norfolk_County_Council) for over {{Currency|2 million|GBP|passthrough=yes}} in 2021 and invested an extra {{Currency|1.4 million|GBP|passthrough=yes|linked=no}} in its refurbishment. The group of charities and social enterprises known as Norwich Unity Hub took on management of the house in late 2024. In November 2025, the Hub's charities sought permission to host performances of plays, dance, live music and film screenings at the house; the city council granted them permission to sell alcohol and play live music at the venue. == References == {{reflist}} Category:Food manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom Category:Manufacturing plants in England Category:Grade II listed buildings in Norfolk --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Carrow Works](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrow_Works) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrow_Works?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.