Have you ever wandered through the city and noticed a number of large Hs marked on the outside of some buildings?

We delved into the past to find out what they are and why they are there. 

The symbols, which may seem strange, actually stand for 'hydrant'. 

Norwich Evening News: An H on a building in Muspole Street, marked number 4An H on a building in Muspole Street, marked number 4 (Image: Newsquest)

They were painted on buildings at the outset of the Second World War, in anticipation of the German Luftwaffe carrying out bombing raids on the county.

The symbols marked the location of water hydrants, so they could be easily found by firemen called to fight blazes caused by bombs.

READ MORE: The strange tale of missing Norwich man, William Hind

The Hs were painted in large white font so that they could be seen more easily in low-light conditions, such as during blackouts. 

Norwich Evening News: Fire crews tackle blazes caused by bombing in Norwich, 1942Fire crews tackle blazes caused by bombing in Norwich, 1942 (Image: Newsquest)

They were used to great effect during the Baedeker raids of 1942 which saw the city extensively targeted by the Luftwaffe.

READ MORE: What is the story behind the monument on the side of the A11?

More than 200 civilians were killed and thousands more injured during these raids.Norwich Evening News: Two Hs on the Norwich University of the Arts building in Saint George's StreetTwo Hs on the Norwich University of the Arts building in Saint George's Street (Image: Newsquest)

As well as the 'H' signs, similar ones were used to mark air raid shelters ('S') and emergency water supplies ('EWS'). 

None of these are known to survive in Norfolk, but they can still be seen in London.

It is unclear how many of the hydrant symbols there were originally in Norwich.

Some of those surviving ones are still found near modern hydrants and can be seen next to modern hydrant markers, in bright yellow.

These Hs can still be seen in King Street, Wensum Street, Saint George's Street, Colegate, and Muspole Street - having survived for more than 80 years.