For inquiries related to collectors shops and Norwich history, you can reach me at peter.cossey@ntlworld.com. Additionally, if you're looking for information on Norwich cinemas, feel free to get in touch.
After running The Movie Shop in Norwich since 1985, I decided to call it a day in 2020. It was time to focus on my true interests rather than spending six days a week dealing with customers in what had become an increasingly unproductive enterprise. I am now dedicating my time to writing about Norwich history over the last century, particularly the aspects that resonate with me, including Norwich cinemas and the charming collectors shops along with their often eccentric owners and customers. Having been immersed in this world since the end of the last war, I feel it's time to share my memories and the historical knowledge I have gathered over these seventy years.
I will use my blog and other pages to tell these stories. Some of these topics will be shared on Facebook on the pages 'Peter Cossey' and 'The Icenian'.
The Blog section will gradually evolve into a complete personal memoir from the end of the war to the present, while also revisiting my family history back to the late Victorian era. I write solely about personal memories, and I vividly remember three of my Victorian grandparents. The fourth holds a touch of tragedy common to many families, which will be revealed as the memoir unfolds.
As I work on the site, it has taken on a life of its own. I find myself adding comments on the wider cultural scene inspired by my extensive collection of books, magazines, and comics that have captivated and inspired me over many decades. This is all part of the tapestry of life, and I will introduce sections whenever a book, a film, or any other artifact sparks my interest in the broader context.
The first part of the blog revisits my book on Norwich cinemas, where I have reprinted the main text along with many more photos I have acquired since the initial publication.
Please use the menu link in the top banner to access other pages.
You can also use the link below to visit my other site, which I am currently developing. It's a collectors site that will also serve as a history of my favorite magazine:
thepictutregoer.com
I can be contacted at: peter.cossey@ntlworld.com
Tel:
(If viewing this on a phone, please remember to click on the three bars beside the title at the top of the page to access the other pages.)
Fort Sumner, New Mexico
I'm Peter Cossey. I've lived in Norwich all my life, and my branch of the Cossey family has been rooted in the Heigham area of Norwich for many generations. I can trace my ancestry back in a direct line to the rebel with a just cause, Robert Kett, and we've likely been part of Norwich history since the conquest. The unique Cossey surname is tied to this area, originating from the village of the same name mentioned in the Domesday Book.
In my blog, I will initially be revisiting my book on Norwich cinemas, titled 'Continuous Performances.' For those interested in a comprehensive read, the book is available on eBay, or you can contact me via the email link below.
The button on the right will direct you to my eBay site, where you can also find various collectors shops that may pique your interest.
This 240-page paperback explores the rich history of Norwich cinemas, detailing their evolution from the early years through to the 1960s, a period when the cinema-going habit, along with many cinemas, began to fade. I experienced the Golden Age of cinema from the end of the war until the closure of the last independent and local cinemas. I visited each of the thirteen Norwich cinemas that operated between 1945 and 1961, and this book captures my memories of each venue. While it touches on the early history of these cinemas, it primarily focuses on the boom years immediately following the war and the incredibly swift decline of the cinema-going experience over a mere 16 years. I witnessed it all and aim to convey what it felt like to be a teenage cinema-goer during those tumultuous times, reflecting on the broader social and cultural influences at play.
Available from the eBay link above, or directly from me via the email link below for £12.00, including postage.
Additionally, my next volume, "Collecting Memories," tells the story of collectors shops in Norwich from 1945 until 1990, including the full narrative of my own shop, and is now available.
Book cover about Norwich cinemas from 1946-1961 by Peter Cossey.
Available on Amazon and eBay, you can also find unique items at local collectors shops. If you're interested, please get in touch via the email below: peter.cossey@ntlworld.com. I can either post directly or even deliver if you're in Norwich, where there are also fascinating Norwich cinemas and rich Norwich history to explore.
The book is a memoir of my years running a collectors shop, alongside the many years I spent exploring the collectors shops in Norwich. I discuss the obsessive nature of collectors and collecting, sharing stories about some of the eccentric characters I encountered in this peculiar world. Additionally, I detail the birth of numerous shops that flourished from the late 60s onwards, as the post-war generation channeled their teenage obsession with music into a vibrant collectors market, which is now an integral part of Norwich history.