Suckling House

I was in Cinema City recently and thought a related article on Suckling House would be of interest.  Suckling House is a merchant's house built between 1350 and 1370. It has a timber framed open hall with a king post roof. Two medieval doorways remain, one on the south side of the building and the other on the north. The building takes its name from Robert Suckling MP (mayor 1564), who was the grandfather of John Suckling the famous poet.  Why was part of the house demolished in the early 1900s?  Which famous city architect rebuilt it in 1925?  To find out answers to these questions and more information, please access this article via the link below:  

https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF605-Suckling-House-St-Andrew%27s-Street-(Cinema-City)

Here is a short YouTube film about Suckling House, please access the link, press play and you can always give the film a thumbs up:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5kVl6fYBWo

Norwich Chalk Mines

Here is a short film from nearly two years ago about the Norwich Chalk Mines with an accompanying narrative and includes a very interesting map of the mines.  Please select the following link and press play, you can always give the film a thumbs up as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hneVwuDdu-E 

John Crome

I must be the only person in Norfolk who has never heard of him!  So here is an article on John.  Otherwise know as “Old Crome” to distinguish him from his artist son.  He was a founding member of the Norwich School of Painters, which was the first art movement established outside London.  He was a Romantic era artist - but what was the Romantic era?  What did he and John Constable have in common?  He has a Broad named after him and a Heartsease ward.  To find the answers to these questions and more information please select the following link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Crome 

George Borrow

I am reading a book called Heroes, Villains and Victims of Norwich and one of the chapters is on George Borrow, who I had never heard of.  So who was he?  He was born in Dereham and was an English writer of novels and of travel based on personal experiences in Europe.  His literature provided a detailed accounts of life in 1820s England and 1850s Wales.  It is rumoured that he had a knowledge of over 100 languages and was admired for his inspirational work on gypsies.  If you want to find out more information about George then please select the following link:

https://www.georgeborrowtrust.org.uk/Georgeborrow.php

Sir Hugh Hastings

I recently did a walk at Elsing near Lyng which is situated out through Lenwade and did some research on the local church, St Marys.  I discovered that it has one of the most celebrated medieval brasses in England, dating to 1347.  The church is essentially a mausoleum for Sir Hugh Hastings, who was a knight and administrator for Edward III and was held in very good regard by the nobility of the time.  Sir Hugh fought in the 100 years war against the French and was a celebrated soldier.  Unfortunately the original brass remains in the church under lock and key, however, there is a replica of the brass displayed - see picture below.  If you are interested in Sir Hugh Hastings and his brass then please select the following link:

https://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/index-of-brasses/sir-hugh-hasting

Happy New Year!