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| Please click on image in order to enlarge |
Thursday, 13 March 2014
Norfolk Record Office Events
Norfolk Record Office has recently confirmed two new series of events, one at Norfolk Record Office: The Archive Centre (on Martineau Lane) and the other at Norfolk Record Office: Norfolk Heritage Centre (inside the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library).
Lunch-time talks
At Norfolk Record Office: The Archive Centre, we present four fascinating lunch-time lectures in partnership with the UEA School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing. The talks encompass the requisition of five Norfolk villages in 1942, autobiographer Margery Kempe, using archives to ‘create fiction from fact’ and looking at how our 17th century counterparts understood heritage.
More details here:
Behind-the-scenes tour
There will also be the opportunity to see behind-the-scenes on a very special tour opportunity in association with Norfolk’s Great Big Read. Find out more about us, experience the conditions in our strongrooms, find out how our conservators care for our books, and see some original manuscripts first-hand. Book online at Eventbrite: Behind-The-Scenes tour or call 01603 222599.
Heritage Hours
At Norfolk Record Office: Norfolk Heritage Centre, we can now reveal the April to June Heritage Hour programme which includes research clinics as well as talks on various topics, from workhouses to Robert Toppes, medieval mercer of Dragon Hall.
Further details here:
All of these events are free, and no booking is necessary except for the tour.
Open Evening
Finally, we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting an Open Evening from 4-5:30pm on Thursday, 3 April – all are welcome for a look around and to ask questions about who we are, what we do, and how we can help you. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided!
* Our thanks go to Elizabeth Budd, acting Archive & Education Outreach Officer, for providing us with this information.
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
Expert Insight into The Roman Empire Exhibition
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| Artefacts on display as part of the amazing Romans exhibition (All images taken with permission of Norfolk Museum Service) |
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| Jon Maxwell |
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| Dr. John Davies |
On Tuesday 4th March, Norwich Community History Club members were privileged to have a visit to the fabulous Roman Empire Exhibition, led by Dr. John Davies (Chief Curator of Norwich Castle Museum) and Jon Maxwell, Head of the Norfolk Museums Service display team.
It was a real privilege to have such expert insight into an exhibition such as this - the largest ever UK exhibition of Roman artefacts on loan from the British Museum. Dr. Davies began by talking to the whole group and setting the exhibition in its historical and archaeological context. Among other things, he explained how the Roman Empire was, "successful in uniting people from a variety of cultures in a unique way."
This excellent introduction was then followed by him leading groups around the exhibition itself. Meanwhile, Jon Maxwell explained the complex coordination, teamwork and negotiation involved in putting an exhibition like this together. Talking to club members afterwards, we were all amazed at how much work, thought and skill goes into what is, after all, a temporary exhibition (finishing on April 27th).
As one of our members said in their feedback following the visit...
"The exhibition really exceeded my expectations. I would like to go back there by myself."
I would agree that it really is worth visiting and if you haven't done so already, go and see it for yourself (details can be viewed via the live link in the first paragraph of this article).
Our thanks go to the Norwich Castle Museum Education Team for enabling our visit in the first instance, and, of course, to the two Jo(h)ns for making it such a special experience. Thanks!
~ Colin Howey ~
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Edith Cavell - A Most Generous Spirit
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| Nick Miller |
Norwich Community History Club members are truly grateful to the man pictured above, Nick Miller, who, stepped in at the very last minute to do an improvised talk about the life of the great Edith Cavell at our last meeting.
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| Monument commemorating Edith Cavell, outside Norwich Cathedral |
To quote from 'Edith Cavell: 1865-1915', the most authoritative website about her life:
'Edith Cavell was the World War I British nurse who is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers in Brussels from all sides without distinction. She and Belgian and French colleagues helped over 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-
She was arrested, tried with 33 others by a German military court, found guilty of ‘assisting men to the enemy’ and shot by a German firing squad on October 12 1915'
[source: Edith Cavell McFadyen, Rev Phillip and Chamberlin, Rev David, "Edith Cavell 1865-
Nick spoke with feeling and authority about Edith Cavell's life. I think everyone present was moved by his account of this remarkable woman. Inspired by her Christian faith she was immensely selfless, resilient and brave. Near the very end of her life, imminently facing execution, her dignity, humanity and generosity of spirit were shine through in her now famous words:
"I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone."
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| Edith Cavell's grave is situated outside, on the south-east side of Norwich Cathedral |
If you wish to do further research about Edith Cavell a list of publications can be found on the website cited above. In addition, you may wish to visit Swardeston, the village nearby to Norwich where Edith was born and raised.
Finally, following Nick's talk, I felt moved to visit Norwich Cathedral to pay my respects to Edith Cavell. The photographs used here were taken by me. Standing next to where her body lies I felt very humble. Hers was truly a life well lived.
Postscript: our thanks must also go to club member, Tracy, who had the initiative to approach Nick, requesting that he step in as speaker on the day. Thanks!
© Colin Howey 2014
Thursday, 16 January 2014
First World War Commemoration - New Online Resource
As part of the centenary commemoration for the First World War, the National Archives are making unit diaries from WW1 online. You can access these via the following link:
Unit Diaries
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Norwich Now & 'Then'
Happy New Year to you!
Norwich Community History Club members are enjoying a film about Norwich now and 'then' (entitled, 'Norwich Century'), made by colleagues of our very own Mike Hudson. Using the city's rich archive of old photographs, the film really made me realise how much of old Norwich survives, despite the best efforts of the tram company, German bombers and post-war planners.
Watching the film, I am also struck by how the place names of the city reflect the different historic phases of the city's development - a point well made by one of our speakers Dr Nick Groves during his excellent talk about Norwich's medieval churches last year.
* Sent 'live' from today's meeting
Thursday, 2 January 2014
First Meeting of 2014
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| Storyteller, Dave Tonge, regaling History Club members with tales during our final meeting of 2013 |
Welcome to 2014 - and a Happy New Year to you! Historians rely on the passing of time to keep them in business, and the dawning of yet another year has just made everything that has gone before a year older.
Anyway, to the matter in hand: a reminder to members that we will be having our first meeting of 2014 on Tuesday 7th January. I look forward to catching up with you all.
Best Wishes,
Colin
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