Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Norwich

Norwich is one of the most historic cities in England.

It lies in the centre of Norfolk, of which it is the county town, and is effectively the capital of East Anglia. It stands on the River Wensum.

Norwich is an unusual city in that it appears not to have a coherent centre. This is because it is in fact an agglomeration of several Anglo-Saxon villages, one of which was called Norwich.

Norwich Cathedral is quite magnificent. The Bishop's seat was moved to here from Thetford in the Norman period. The beautiful spire is the second highest in Britain, being surpassed only by Salisbury Cathedral.

Norwich Castle was also built by the Normans, in about 1160. Formerly used as the county prison, its function now is as a museum. There is a large modern indoor shopping centre beneath the castle.

Norwich has the astonishing figure of 33 mediaeval churches still standing, far more than any other English city. Many of these have been put to a different use.

The sloping Market Place is one of the largest in England, and is flanked by the splendid St. Peter Mancroft Church, the mediaeval chequered flint Guildhall and the 20th century City Hall.

St. Julian's Church, a little way away from the centre towards Carrow, is where the mystic Julian of Norwich, author of "Revelations of Divine Love", had her cell.

Elm Hill is a particularly attractive street, close to Tombland, the Anglo - Saxon market place. Pull's Ferry, by the river, is another picturesque corner.

The Music House is a stone building dating from Norman times, the same period as houses in Lincoln and Bury St. Edmunds.

The Maid's Head Hotel is one of the oldest in England.

Part of the old City Walls are still standing.

Norwich was formerly a centre of the worsted trade, which started nearby at Worsted, and has since moved into footwear, financial services and mustard. The Colman's Mustard shop is in Norwich.

The city was also a centre for the breeding of canaries, a fact remembered in the nickname of Norwich City Football Club, "The Canaries".

There are famous views over Norwich from Mousehold Heath, where Robert Kett's rebellion was overcome in 1549.

Norwich has considerable fame in the art world due to the Norwich School of Painters.

Those born in Norwich include Michael Brunson, TV newsreader; Vernon Castle, ballroom dancer; John Sell Cotman, painter; John Crome, painter; Rupert Everett, actor; Elizabeth Fry, prison reformer; Luke Hansard, printer of Parliamentary proceedings; Julian of Norwich, mystic; Danny Mills, footballer; and Thomas Morley, composer.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Norwich for groups.