The station was badly bombed in the Baedeker raids of 1942[3] when the main building was largely destroyed. Thereafter, the station operated from "temporary" buildings constructed on the site.[4] Later in the war, in 1944, a B24 Liberator bomber of the USAF clipped the tower of St Philips Church and then was deliberately steered to crash into the station's sidings and coal yards to avoid the surrounding houses. The pilot and crew were all killed.[5]
The station was closed to passengers on 2 March 1959 along with most of the Midland & Great Northern system, although the station remained in use for goods traffic until 1969.[4]
Location
The old Norwich City station stood where a roundabout is situated on the Inner link road A147, which links Barn Road with St Crispins Road close to Anglia Square.[6][7] The present Norwich railway station is about 1 mile away, to the southeast.
Recent news and developments
The amateur group Friends of Norwich City Station (FONCS) has been set up to preserve what is left of the station and surrounding buildings. Current work is focused on the platform area. The Platform 1 wall has been discovered and the bay area has been cleared of undergrowth. The hope for the future is to uncover all the railway related parts of the area and turn it into a memorial garden. They also documented all those who served at the station. Interpretation boards will be erected, some including old photographs of the site. It is hoped that M&GN benches will accompany these.[8]