Carrow Road

Carrow Road stands east of Norwich city centre, beside the River Wensum and near the railway station. The stadium occupies a site once owned by the Colman family, who ran a mustard factory next to the ground. Its name comes from Carrow Road, the street that borders three sides of the ground. The river forms the fourth boundary, and the Thorpe Corner recognises the area’s industrial past. The ground replaced an old chalk pit called The Nest, which had become unsafe for large crowds. The stadium has grown through the decades. It opened in 1935 after just 82 days of building, a record still remembered by the club. In 1938 King George VI watched part of a match here, the first time a monarch attended a Second Division game. The ground once held over forty thousand fans, but safety changes reduced its capacity in the 1970s. A fire in 1984 destroyed one stand, leading to a new City Stand by 1987. More recent changes have brought safe standing back to parts of the ground. Visitors find a modern stadium with clear views from every seat. The Jarrold Stand seats eight thousand and replaced an older terrace in 2003. The Barclay and Snakepit areas now offer safe standing for supporters. A Holiday Inn hotel overlooks the pitch, and catering facilities serve matchday crowds. The ground has also hosted concerts by stars such as Elton John and George Michael. From the stands, the River Wensum can be seen beyond the Thorpe Corner.