Norfolk is one of England’s greatest Norman counties. To celebrate our Norman heritage Norfolk Tourism and BBC Learning are co-ordinating a wide range of special events and activities from August to October as part of BBC Hands on History and to tie in with the BBC’s Norman season on TV, radio and online.
Do some medieval time travel at Castle Rising Castle and Pensthorpe Nature Reserve. Explore ‘The House of The King’ – Norwich Castle. Design and create your own Norman arch at Binham Priory and go to a Stormin’ Normans event in a Norfolk library. Then become a Norman at the Norfolk Archive Centre, explore King’s Lynn, Great Yarmouth and Norwich’s Norman roots and meet the oldest oak in Norfolk – a sapling at the Battle of Hastings – at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden and much more. Pick up a Normans in Norfolk leaflet at TICs and libraries or download the leaflet from www.visitnorfolk.co.uk.
BBC Norfolk has produced a special Norman Walk at Castle Acre where you can walk in the footsteps of the Norman invaders and explore the landscape carved out by the conquest. Go to BBC Norfolk www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk for a printable map, audio guide and a new family adventure trail.
Madeleine Forrester, Regional Manager, BBC Learning said: “Our partners in Norfolk have developed a fantastic range of special events to allow residents and visitors to the county to get under the skin of Norman Norfolk. I hope to see lots of people exploring Castle Acre on our BBC Norfolk Norman Walk and taking part in exciting Stormin’ Norman events across the county.”
Lydia Smith Director, Norfolk Tourism said: “The Normans had a big impact on Norfolk and their legacy is everywhere to be seen in our wonderful churches and castles and on the streets of Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn and Thetford. The special Normans in Norfolk events programme provides a great opportunity to discover what the Normans did for us!”
Norwich’s role as the county capital dates from the post Conquest era when the Normans built the castle and Bishop de Losinga moved his headquarters from Thetford and founded Norwich Cathedral. Norwich became England’s second largest medieval city and today is our most complete medieval city.
King’s Lynn was founded by Bishop de Losinga in 1101 around St Margaret’s Church. The town was initially known as Bishop’s Lynn, following the granting of its charter in 1204, and became an important port and member of The Hanseatic League. Great Yarmouth also has a long history and had its rights confirmed in a charter from King John in 1208.
Some 30 early medieval castles can be traced in the Norfolk countryside, the greatest survivals are at Norwich, Castle Rising and Castle Acre. Thetford Castle was dismantled in 1173, but the castle mound, one of largest in the country, survives.
As Norfolk settled down to Norman rule, the Barons turned their attention to their ‘souls’ and hundreds of parish churches and many monasteries were built. Norfolk has the largest collection of medieval churches in the world.
Thanks to Richeldis de Faverches’ vision of Mary the mother of Jesus, which ‘took her in spirit to Nazareth, and requested that a replica of the Holy House at Nazareth be built’, Walsingham became one of the most important medieval pilgrimage centres in Europe. Today it is home to the national Anglican and Roman Catholic Shrines.
Binham Priory www.binhampriory.org (near Wells) was founded c.1104 by Pierre and Albreda de Valognes, although the building was not finished until the middle of the 13th century. The very impressive parish church, which shared the site, survived the 16th century Dissolution of the Monasteries and is open daily in summer 9am to 6pm.
Castle Acre (near Swaffham) is a planned Norman settlement comprising the castle (English Heritage), church, village and priory (English Heritage) established after the Conquest by William de Warenne, www.english-heritage.org.uk.
Castle Rising Castle www.castlerising.co.uk (near King’s Lynn) was built by William D’Albini. The keep was completed c.1140 and is among the finest surviving examples of its kind. Open 1 April to 1 November, daily 10am-6pm (dusk if earlier in October) also open throughout the winter.
New Buckenham Castle (near Attleborough) and New Buckenham village created by William D’Albini c.1145. The castle was completed c.1176 and the village is renowned for retaining its original medieval street pattern.
Norfolk’s Medieval churches – the county has more than 600 historic churches, with many Norman foundations, www.norfolkopenchurches.com.
Norwich Castle was established in 1067 by William the Conqueror as a Royal palace. Open – peak season (28 June -3 October), Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm, low season (4 October – 3 July 2011) open Mon – Sat 10am-4.30pm and Sun 1pm-4.30pm, www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk.
Norwich Cathedral www.cathedral.org.uk is the most complete Norman cathedral in the UK, founded in 1096 by Bishop Herbert de Losinga. The main building and many of the monastic buildings were finished in 1140 by his successor Bishop Evorard de Montgomery.
Thetford Castle Mound comprises the remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle, built soon after 1066 and dismantled in 1173. It is one of largest man-made mounds in the country.
Thetford Priory (English Heritage) established in the early 12th century, this was one of the most important East Anglian monasteries and was the burial place of the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk for 400 years. Open daily, www.english-heritage.org.uk.
Walsingham www.walsingham.org.uk. This Norfolk village, ‘England’s Nazareth’ was one of the great medieval pilgrimage destinations and continues to this day as a Christian pilgrimage centre.
Wymondham Abbey www.wymondhamabbey.com – founded in 1107 by William D’Albini. As with Binham Priory, the parish church was built adjacent to the Abbey and survived the 16th century Dissolution of the Monasteries. Open April to November Mon-Sat 10am-4pm and Sun 2pm-4pm in July and August. Also open during the winter.
– Hunstanton Library, 14 August, 10.30am – 12noon or 2pm – 3.30pm. Stormin’ Normans, FREE, Find out fascinating, funny and surprising things about Norman life, make your own Norman shield and Bayeux tapestry, tel. 01485 532280.
– Castle Rising Castle, nr King’s Lynn, 14 and 15 August, 10am – 6pm. Medieval Time Travel 1066-1485, Black Knight Historical turns the clock back, experience the sights and sounds of medieval Castle Rising. Charges Adult £7, conc £6, child £4, tel. 01553 631330, www.castlerising.co.uk.
– Norwich Cathedral 17 August, 10am – 12noon 1st session, 12noon-1pm picnic lunch (bring your own), 1pm – 3pm 2nd session – It’s a Norman Monk’s Life. What was a Norman monk’s life really like – lots of fun hands-on activities – FREE, tel. 01603 218320, www.cathedral.org.uk.
– Norfolk Archive Centre, County Hall, Norwich, 17 August, 2pm – 3.30pm, Norman Treasures in the Archives! Find out about the history of the Norfolk Record Office and discover some of our treasures. Get behind the scenes and see our oldest document from William II. FREE, spaces limited. Please book on 01603 222599.
– Norfolk Archive Centre, County Hall, Norwich, 19 August, 2pm– 3.30pm, Become a Norman Solider! Make your own helmet complete with chain mail and find out about Norman Norfolk. FREE, spaces limited. Please book on 01603 222599.
– Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, South Walsham 25 August, 11am – 3pm, ‘The life of The King Oak’. The garden’s Norman oak. Children’s Day with Norman-themed activities. Normal Admission, adult £5, conc. £4.50, child £2.50 9under 5 free) tel. 01603 270449, www.fairhavengarden.co.uk.
– King’s Lynn 26 August, 2pm – 3.30pm. The Role of the Normans, Norman Lynn, a guided walk though historic King’s Lynn, using documents from the Norfolk Record Office and King’s Lynn Borough Archives to find out about the rôle the Normans played in the town. FREE, spaces limited. Please book on 01603 222599.
– Thetford Library, 28 August 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1pm – 3pm – Norman Arts and Crafts – Norman shields and coins, mini tapestries, 3D castles, family crests and stories. Booking essential tel. 01842 752048.
– Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, nr Fakenham, 28-30 August, 10am – 5pm. Medieval Spectacular, experience the sights and smells of medieval Pensthorpe. Adult £9, seniors £7.50, child £5.50, family £25, Tel 01328 851465, www.pensthorpe.com.
– Castle Rising Castle, nr King’s Lynn, 29 and 30 August, 10am – 6pm, Medieval Feasts & Fighting with Buckingham’s Retinue. Adult £7, conc £6, child £4, tel. 01553 631330, www.castlerising.co.uk.
– Norfolk Archive Centre, County Hall, Norwich, 1 September, 2pm-3.30pm, Create a Norman Town – find out about Norfolk towns and villages using the Domesday Book. FREE, spaces limited. Please book on 01603 222599.
– Cinema City, Norwich, 11 September, 11.30am, Special screening of one of the BBC ‘Norman Season’ programmes Followed by The Normans – a talk by UEA History Professor. £4, £3 concessions, £2 Cinema City members, tel. 0871 902 5724.
– King’s Lynn 28-32 King St, 12 September, 10am– 4pm. Explore a Norman House c.1100 inside a Tudor and Victorian skin. FREE, tel. 01553 763983 or 01553 763044.
– King’s Lynn 12 September, 10am – 4pm. The new town of Bishop’s Lynn. Walk from the Custom House to True’s Yard Fishing Museum visiting open houses. FREE, tel. 01553 763983 or 01553 763044.
– Norwich Millennium Library, 12 September, 11am – 4pm ‘Stormin’ Normans’ Castles and Kings, Ladies and Knights – Stories & Crafts Norman Stories: 11.30am & 2pm age 3-7 and Norman Crafts, ages 7-12 at 2.15pm and ages 3-7 at 2.30pm, FREE, tel. 01603 774774.
– Great Yarmouth, 14 September, 2pm – 3.30pm – Norman Roots, Great Yarmouth is a Norman town, founded originally by the Bishop of Norwich. Join a guided walk through the town using documents from the Norfolk Record Office to trace its Norman roots. FREE, spaces limited. Please book on 01603 222599.
– Swaffham Library, 18 September, 10.30am– 12noon. Stormin’ Normans, FREE, Find out fascinating, funny and surprising things about Norman life, make your own Norman shield and Bayeux tapestry. Suitable for 7-11 year olds. Places are limited so please book by calling the library on 01760 721513
– Dersingham Library, 23 September, 5.30pm – 7pm, Stormin’ Normans, FREE, Find out fascinating, funny and surprising things about Norman life, make your own Norman shield and Bayeux tapestry. Suitable for 7-11 year olds. Places are limited so please book by calling the library on 01485 540181
– Norwich Millennium Library, 25 September, 11am – The Mind of a Norman Bishop. A talk about Herbert de Losinga’s letters. FREE, tel. 01603 774786.
– New Buckenham, 2 October, 10am to 3pm, A Norman Day at New Buckenham based at the Village Hall (NR16 2AU) plus visit to the Castle, led by Norfolk Family Learning. Lots of fun Norman arts and crafts and play the BBC game ‘Battle of Hastings 1066’! FREE, tel. 01603 430223.
– Norwich Cathedral, 20 October – Bayeux Tapestry Challenge, FREE – this collaboration between HEART and Norwich Cathedral’s education team will give Year 7 students the chance to work together to create an exciting modern day version of the Bayeux Tapestry, based on the Norwich 12, www.norwich12.co.uk, and their place in the history of Norwich. For information tel. 01603 599577.
– Binham Priory every Sunday and Tuesday until 30 September, 2.30pm, Guided Tour of the Priory Church and Monastic Precincts (donations requested), www.binhampriory.org.
– Binham Priory daily throughout August, 9am-6pm, Design and Create your own Norman Arch (donations requested), www.binhampriory.org.
– Norwich Castle, 24 July to 4 September – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The House of the King – a selection of Norman themed drop in activities including costumed characters, guided tours, talks, object handling and crafts. Normal admission charges apply. www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk.
– Norman Norwich Trail – HEART is creating a self-guided trail (for all ages), an exploration of Norwich’s fascinating Norman heritage on foot. Download from HEART’s website from late August www.heritagecity.org tel. 01603 599577.
This summer the BBC is celebrating the Norman era on TV, radio and online. Look out for The Norman Season on TV – BBC Two – The Normans, August, BBC Two – Domesday Book Special, August and BBC Four Dan Snow’s Norman Walks, August. Visit the ‘Hands on History’ website www.bbc.co.uk/history/handsonhistory to find information about Norman castles, churches and battle sites plus free spotters guides to print off for your day out plus family activities to download and get creative this summer, including creating a time capsule, building a castle and holding a medieval feast.
Norfolk Tourism is the county’s established public and private industry partnership. Funded by its 55 partner organisations, the partnership is designed to act as a forum for all Norfolk’s tourism businesses and local authorities, www.visitnorfolk.co.uk, tel. 01603 222846. See our free to use image library at www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/norfolk/image-library.aspx.
