Downtown in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Granby Street

Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 23, 2009

1. Granby Street Marker

Inscription. Granby Street was named in 1769 to honor Englishman John Manners (1721 – 1770), Marquess of Granby. The original street ran three blocks from Bute Street south to Town Back Creek, a semi-navigable stretch of marshland running the length of today’s City Hall Avenue. Town Back Creek was a barrier to development in the northern portion of the Borough until a bridge was built in 1818 to span the creek at Granby. As it became more accessible, Granby Street was transformed into a residential area of stately homes.

The electric streetcar debuted in Norfolk in 1894, and neighborhoods were established along the route. Many Granby Street residents moved to the new suburb of Ghent, and businesses of every kind replaced their former homes. By 1910, Granby Street surpassed Main Street as Norfolk’s busiest shopping district. From 1976 to 1986 part of Granby was closed to vehicular traffic and renamed Granby Mall. Granby Street declined through the 1990s, but with the opening of Tidewater Community College and MacArthur Center it has been revitalized with residences, theaters, and restaurants.

Erected by City of Norfolk.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1769.

Location.

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36° 50.808′ N, 76° 17.532′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in Downtown. It is on Granby Street north of Main Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norfolk VA 23510, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Four Farthing or Town Point (within shouting distance of this marker); The Customhouse, 1859 (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Flood Protection for Downtown Norfolk (about 500 feet away); Monticello Hotel, 1898 (about 500 feet away); Margaret Douglass (about 500 feet away); The Cedar (about 600 feet away); Half Moone Fort, 1673 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

John Manners, Marquess of Granby (1721-1770) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 10, 2010

2. John Manners, Marquess of Granby (1721-1770)

Courtesy of the Director, National Army Museum, London Acquired with the assistance of the National Art Collection Fund.

Photographed by Scott Rollins, June 23, 2009

3. Granby Street Marker

Granby Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 5, 2015

4. Granby Street

1868

5. Granby Street 1868

Granby Street 2015 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Marsha A. Matson, June 5, 2015

6. Granby Street 2015

Granby Street about 1910 image. Click for full size.

circa 1910

7. Granby Street about 1910

This is the same postcard view as on the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,089 times since then and 148 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 28, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. 2. submitted on October 13, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on July 28, 2009, by Kristin Rollins of Portsmouth, Virginia. 4. submitted on June 8, 2015, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. 5. submitted on October 7, 2015. 6. submitted on June 8, 2015, by Marsha A. Matson of Palmetto Bay, Florida. 7. submitted on October 7, 2015. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.