This used to be called The Nursery, as Charles Coleman had a large
nursery there. The ground was afterwards used for a brickfield. Near
Bruce Castle grounds was the Lancasterian School for boys, supported by
voluntary contributions.
Messrs. Le Gros, Thompson and Bird, crape finishers, had a factory in
Love-lane. This was burnt down in the year 1860, and the business was
then removed to Norwich. The manager, James Bayliss, lived in the house
in the front, which is now used as a Convent School.
Whitehall House stood on the site, now covered with shops and houses,
known as Whitehall-terrace, Whitehall-street, and Moselle-street. The
estate consisted of between six and seven acres of land. In one part of
the pleasure grounds there was a Serpentine Walk. The house was some
distance back from the road, and in the front was a beautiful lake, with
swans on it. Mr. Charles Soames was the owner and occupier.