History
The Nurseries is a plot of land east of Norwich that has a range of greenhouses, workshops, outbuildings, and three boiler houses. Operations started here in the early 1900s and quickly grew. The site was used as a plant nursery and had a large orchard. From the 1940s to the 1970s, the entire area was covered with apple trees.
An online source mentions Evan Jones as the owner, and the site expanded further in the 1930s, adding more greenhouses and work sheds. Around the same time, staff toilets and a pig shed were built. In the 1940s, the site had about 20 permanent staff, and during harvest, up to 100 seasonal fruit pickers were hired, including local schoolchildren and workers from Little Plumstead Lunatic Asylum. In the early 1950s, three coke-fired boiler houses and several hot water tanks were installed to heat the greenhouses.
The business started to decline in the 1970s after the UK joined the European Commission, which allowed cheaper imported fruit from Europe. This led to the closure of many orchards across the country, which were often turned into arable land. The plant nursery side of the business continued until 2021, although many greenhouses became unused much earlier. Online sources suggest the business last traded as ‘Select Seeds & Plants’.
The 42-acre site is now fenced off and has been bought by Orbit Homes. The developer plans to build over 280 homes and a primary school on the land. As part of the development, Orbit Homes also plans to restore one of the original apple orchards.
The site has 3 boiler houses consisting of Beeston Boilers, a company founded in 1893 in Nottinghamshire, introduced their Robin Hood range of boilers in 1906. The brand became well-known for durable cast-iron boilers, particularly during the mid-20th century as central heating gained popularity in British homes. Despite their early success, Beeston Boilers eventually declined due to advances in heating technology and competition, ceasing production in the late 20th century. The Robin Hood brand remains a nostalgic symbol of reliable heating systems.
