The owners of Colman’s Mustard Shop & Museum are looking for special memories and photos of the Shop which will form part of an exhibition to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Norwich this year 2013.
In particular Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART), which has owned and run the Shop since 2009, would like to hear from people who attended the launch event in February 1973 and from people who used to work in the Shop or have visited it over the years.
The stories and images collected will form part of an exhibition about the Shop to be displayed later in the year. It will be one of a series of special events and promotions that the Shop will run over the year to celebrate its milestone.
The Mustard Shop was opened in 3, Bridewell Alley by the Chairman of Reckitt & Colman Ltd, Mr A. M. Mason in 1973 to commemorate and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the formation of the partnership between Jeremiah and James Colman on 15th February 1823 and to allow the general public to see some of the archive that was kept on the factory site at Carrow.
As noted in the Special Anniversary Edition of Carrow Magazine, the house magazine of Reckitt & Colman’s food and wine division in Spring 1973:
“To witness this important event, a party of food writers from the National press and magazines was brought from London in a special train […] the guests were served with a lavish Regency champagne breakfast.” The event was attended by Fanny Cradock, the TV cook and writer and, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Norwich, Mrs and Mrs Dick Seabrook. Sir Timothy Colman, the great-great-great grandson of James Colman, one of the two original partners, gave a speech at the meal that followed in the Old Mill at Stoke Holy Cross, where Colman’s mustard was first milled.
Originally the Shop was just intended to be open for one year but it was so successful and popular it remained open. It was moved to its current premises in the historic Royal Arcade in 1999, where it is based in a careful replica of Victorian trade premises, and 10 years later was taken over by HEART. Today it is one of Norwich’s most cherished tourist attractions, popular with locals and visitors alike.
The shop stocks an extensive range of powder and prepared mustards, including a number of specialities made exclusively for the shop. There is also a wide selection of mustard pots, spoons, tea towels and Colman’s memorabilia. It also contains many items on loan from the archives, covering all aspects of the history and production of Colman’s mustard.
Nick Cook, Retail Business Manager at the Mustard Shop said: “Colman’s Mustard Shop is a well-known and popular symbol of our local heritage and has played a part in the city’s retail, heritage, and tourism landscape for a milestone 40 years. We are looking forward to delving into the Shop’s history as part of the celebrations this year whilst looking ahead to an exciting and thriving future.”
If you have any information about the Shop over the years please contact Chris Wilson on 01603 305574 or email [email protected]g by 31st January 2013.
For more information about the Shop please visit www.mustardshopnorwich.co.uk, call 01603 627889 or follow@mustardshopnorwich on Twitter.
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