Blog
Meet the Experience Hosts
Join us for our exclusive event, Meet the Experience Hosts! Meet the team that makes the dream work. Hear stories from Norwich's past - our favourites and some that are exclusive to this tour and have a complimentary drink on us! Topics include: ✨ Max: Weaving the tales of Norwich's textile heritage. 🐾 Holly: Furry and feathered stories from the city's past. 👻 Nyree: Dark stories from Norwich’s history. We've never run an event like this, and...
Creatures and Features (A look at hidden Norwich)
(Thank you to Louise who asked us to look into the creatures and features of our city! This one is for you but is also for all of you looking to learn a bit more about the hidden parts of Norwich!) Norwich is full of lots of hidden creatures and features that watch us in our everyday movements. To those of us that live here, the streets of Norwich are a familiar sight. Many of us probably think we know all there is to know in terms of places...
Are you our next Experience Host?
We are hiring! We’re seeking a dynamic Experience Host to join our team. Are you an enthusiastic individual with a passion for local history and helping to make a difference in the community? We are looking for a charismatic communicator, who can deliver an experience to remember!
Our Favourite Kett’s Rebellion Stories
Anyone who loves history in Norwich knows that July is the anniversary of Kett’s Rebellion. And, as we do every year, we’ve had a little flurry of customers asking us about it. So we were having a gentle debate in the office as to why it is such a popular story and it turns out, none of us agree. So, I thought I’d ask all the tour guides for their favourite parts and share them with you. Strap in, it’s a long one! What is Kett's Rebellion?...
Is England the home of Football? By Oli Picton
It’s coming home, it’s coming home, it’s coming… We’ve all heard that a million times, a song designed to bring together England fans, players and the whole country and by sheer will power bring football home. Considering England have won one World Cup 60 years ago and no European Championships in over 100 years it seems rather arrogant to call England the home of football. So why do we say it? (image credit - Wikimedia commons) The short...
The History of Wine in England
Norwich Wine Week comes to an end soon, but would the original residents of our 16th century Hidden Street have been able to enjoy a wine? Well, winemaking and consumption in England is a hotly debated topic amongst historians, but the general consensus is that the closer you were to a winemaking region, the more accessible it was for the lower classes. You’ll be unsurprised to learn that changing climates and unpredictable weather meant...
A Father of Norwich – by Oli Picton
Norwich is home to a few famous fathers that are of historical importance. Men like John Gurney, partner of Gurneys’ Bank and father of celebrated prison reformer Elizabeth Fry or Robert Suckling, father of John Suckling, the creator of the card game Cribbage.
The Great Pyramid of Norfolk
Forget about the Great Pyramid of Giza - there’s a 14m squared pyramid in Norfolk. Built in 1793 and found in the Blickling Estate, the Blickling Park Mausoleum was designed by Italian architect Joseph Bonomi the Elder, who would go on to become the designated architect for St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It houses the remains of John Hobart, the 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire, and his two wives Mary Anne and Caroline. Made of 190,000 Portland stone...
Strangers, Refugees and the Making of Norwich
England is a land of immigrants. The very first human beings set foot here from Doggerland to hunt 10,000 years ago
Five Norwich History Myths Debunked
Norwich is home to some fascinating history. But there are plenty of misconceptions about our fine city’s history too. Here are five of our favourites: 1) The plague pits underneath Tombland. With a name like “Tombland”', it’s unsurprising that many believe it was the home of Norwich’s plague pits. But there’s no evidence to suggest Norwich’s plague victims were ever buried there. In fact, the name Tombland originates from the Saxon word Tõm,...