24. Guildhall Plane

A venerable Victorian oriental plane is given added character by its backdrop of Norwich’s medieval Guildhall

The 1930s City Hall dominates the western edge of Norwich Market, but for centuries before that, the 15th century Guildhall to the north would have been the principal building. The Victorians added a clock in 1850 and built the southern porch in 1861, and around this time the fluted oriental planes on Guildhall Hill would have been planted. Stand under the northern tree to admire the Guildhall facade. 

Species details

Oriental plane
Platanus orientalis

Where to find it

Guildhall Hill, Norwich NR2 1JS
///green.them.calls | 52.629002, 1.292977

Oriental plane notes

There are several discernible oriental plane types, old cultivars whose names are now forgotten. One that can be seen occasionally in English towns and cities has a distinctive fluted trunk that flares out at its base. Many of the oriental planes (of which there are quite a few) in Norwich have this characteristic. Perhaps they were all planted around the same time in an early urban greening initiative. Since they were installed 150 years ago or more, they have become an elegant component of Norwich’s historic cityscape, as important and specific as the city’s architecture.

Other oriental planes

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Urban Tree Festival

Welcome to those who have signed up for Daily Urban Tree posts during the Urban Tree Festival between 13-21 May. Before the festival, and after, I will be posting regular accounts of great British and Irish urban trees, just not one everyday!