We had a great session in the Heritage Centre called "Silks, shawls and other stuff" on Tuesday. Lot's of artefacts from the archive and well researched information from Chris Lacy and the team. A big thank you to them. Anyway, I hadn’t heard of the term “Norwich Stuff” until Chris mentioned it at this session, so here is an article that explains all:
Norwich Community History Club
Our Aims
Our Club's aims are to:
• Learn collaboratively about the history, heritage and archaeology of Norwich and Norfolk
• Develop resources and activities that contribute to the wider community’s understanding of history and archaeology
• Develop activities that enhance/maintain the wellbeing and emotional resilience of club members
• Be actively inclusive – open, accessible and welcoming to all
Sunday, 29 June 2025
Sunday, 22 June 2025
Wymondham
After a great day out in Wymondham on 10th June, for those that wish to supplement their learning on Wymondham after our visit, I attach the following link which makes reference to; the market cross, fire of 1615, the abbey and plenty more:
Sunday, 25 May 2025
Lyveden New Bield
I visited Lyveden Manor House and the New Bield (New Build) this week. These were two houses about a mile apart, one a manor house and the other a half built “Secret House”. Too close to the main house for use as a hunting lodge, keeping a secret house was a custom of the 16th century. Often within a mile of the main house, the secret house was a place where the head of the household would retire for a few days with a minimum of servants, while the principal house was thoroughly cleaned and, bearing in mind the sanitation of the time, fumigated. Secret Houses were probably never intended for full-time occupation. Here are pictures of the manor house (first photo) and the New Field (second photo):
Monday, 5 May 2025
Norwich Public Library
Monday, 28 April 2025
The Chapel In The Fields
Following on from the heritage walk last Tuesday and especially if you didn’t get a clear view of the maps I was showing, here is an article about Chapelfield and the Chapel In The Fields from the excellent Colonel Unthanks website. In particular please note the excellent 16th, 18th and 19th century maps that outline the Chapel In The Fields, the water pump house and reservoir that once resided in Chapelfields:
https://colonelunthanksnorwich.com//?s=chapel+in+the+fields+&search=Go
Sunday, 13 April 2025
The Captain's Parks
The following is an interesting article from the excellent Colonel Unthanks Norwich website. It is about Captain Arnold Edward Sandys-Winsch who built five parks throughout Norwich during the 1920s and 1930s. But what parks did he build and in what architectural style? He also planted 20,000 trees throughout Norwich which we all enjoy today and probably take for granted. What manpower was used to build these parks? There is also a 1950s cafe menu included in the article which is also worth a look and is very much different to the menus we see today! Please select the following link to find out more:
https://colonelunthanksnorwich.com/2019/07/05/the-captains-parks/
Sunday, 6 April 2025
Christopher Saxton’s Map of Norfolk 1574
I recently attended a Global Archive session at the Heritage Centre and one of the books on display was Saxton’s map of Norfolk. As part of an initiative to survey and map England and Wales in 1574, financed by Thomas Seckford and authorised by Elizabeth I, Saxton produced the below map of Norfolk. The end result is a lavish embellishment that has an ornamental value and well as a practical purpose.
Here is an article about Christopher Saxton:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/library/files/special/exhibns/month/june2002.html