NORFOLK

Despite being flat, and largely agricultural, Norfolk has much to recommend it. Let's not get on to the subject of the Shapla Indian Restaurant in Attleborough though!

THE BROADS

BURE VALLEY RAILWAY

DEREHAM

DOWNHAM MARKET

GREAT YARMOUTH

HORNING

HUNSTANTON

KINGS LYNN

LARLING

METHWOLD

NORTH WALSHAM

NORWICH

SWAFFHAM

THE BROADS

Of course, this huge system of inland waterways, rivers and lakes (Broads) is what Norfolk is most famed for. And rightly so. Despite their appearance, the Broads are man-made. The lakes, known as broads, were formed by the flooding of peat workings. 

This is Oulton Broad, one of the largest

BURE VALLEY RAILWAY

Norfolk's longest fifteen inch gauge line runs between the ancient market town of Aylsham and Wroxham, the 'Capital of the Norfolk Broads'

 

DEREHAM

It is believed that Dereham's name derives from a deer park that existed in the area, in perhaps the 7th century, since a rough translation of the name is 'enclosure for deer'. That is quite recent however, since it is known that the town pre-dates the Saxon era. Hence this interesting sign that spans the High Street

DOWNHAM MARKET

South of King's Lynn on the edge of the Fens is Downham Market, a small hillside town dating back to Saxon times, and one of Norfolk's oldest market towns. 

In the marketplace is a striking black and white town clock tower, a gift in 1878 of James Scott, a local grocer. The clock was designed by William Cunliffe of London.

GREAT YARMOUTH

Great Yarmouth is more of a usual seaside town than most Norfolk ones, with a large fairground called the Pleasure Beach at one end of the seafront, and various other entertainments. The other end is much quieter, and there's a large wind turbine array offshore

HORNING

Horning, in the Broads, is home to this paddle steamer, 'Southern Comfort', which takes tourists around the Broads. It was probably once a Roman staging post, with a ferry that is said to have operated for 1000 years near the Ferry Inn, further along the river.

HUNSTANTON

Hunstanton is a popular coastal resort sixteen miles from King's Lynn and approx twelve miles from Sandringham on the A149

Hunstanton was built as a Norfolk seaside resort and gained popularity as early as the 1860s.

It's attractive, but with the wind blowing straight off the North Sea, can be a little windy and cool, even on a lovely sunny day. The seafront is wide, with well-laid out attractive gardens. It's also a very biker-friendly town.

Hunstanton was the first place we ever found sugar-free sticks of rock (how you can have sugar-free sticks of pure sugar is beyond me), and it was a long time before we found them elsewhere

KINGS LYNN

One of the better known towns in Norfolk, Kings Lynn has some splendid buildings. This chequered brickwork occurs all over Norfolk, and I think it's really attractive.

(below) This is the Holy Trinity Guildhall in the eponymous Saturday Market Place, now a museum

(below) the King's Lynn Conservancy Board Building, hosting the Port and Pilotage Authority

LARLING

You may wonder why Larling is on here. There's nothing there. Larling is simply a farm, and a wonderful pub. Since the new dual-carriageway of the A11 was built, Larling has been completely by-passed. This has given landlord Andrew Stammers a wonderful opportunity to build the old pub into an impressive dining experience. It also has its' own campsite, with excellent facilities, and is host to an annual Real Ale Festival every August. The reason it's on here, is because Andrew has become a friend, and it's my choice of somewhere to stay when in Norfolk.

The Angel Inn is a 17th century former Coaching Inn within 20 miles of the city of Norwich and the historic towns of Bury St Edmunds, Thetford, Wymondham and Diss. Originally built for Thomas Wright in 1631 it has since had approximately 30 tenants/owners.

Arthur George Stammers arrived at The Angel in 1913 with his wife Grace Rebecca. He was the son of Henry and Elizabeth Stammers who were then the licensees of The Dolphin at Harling Road station (now cottages). Previously in 1883 Henry had been the licensee of Bridgham Red Lion. Leased by Steward and Patteson the tenancy of the Angel was to last until the death of Arthur's wife in 1949. He then went into retirement.
It would be later on in 1983 his Grandson Brian Stammers would take over the tenancy with his wife Geraldine. By 1994 ownership of The Angel had been passed from Norwich Brewery to Control Securities. It was in that year it was sold to Brian, Geraldine and son Andrew, where ownership remains to this day.

METHWOLD

A pub next to a church, and a few houses. What more does a village need?

NORTH WALSHAM

The town of North Walsham, just 9 miles from the coast and as many from the Norfolk Broads

The market town, North Walsham, became a centre for weaving in the Anglo-Saxon era, along with the nearby village of Worstead (from where the cloth gets its name). The wealth generated, enabled the local people to build St. Nicholas Church which dates back to 1330. Its tall tower is the second tallest in Norfolk after Norwich Cathedral.

The market place houses a 16th century cross with clock, the focal point of the town, which was built to collect rent from the market traders. Today, a market runs on Thursdays and the rest of the town has plenty of shops,...

Behind the Market Place is a school founded in 1600 by Sir John Paston. Perhaps the most famous pupil of the school was Horatio Nelson.

NORWICH

The County City of Norfolk, Norwich is a beautiful city, with much to interest both the sightseer and the shopper. There's a strange juxtaposition of ancient and modern, which could so very easily have degenerated into a higgledy-piggedly mess, but the planners have been very careful to surround important buildings, both old and new, with wide open spaces that simply enhance the appearance and visibility of the multitude of architectural styles.

Norwich has two cathedrals, and the spire of the Anglican one towers over the city, as does the square fortress of the Castle.

On the Upper Green, within the cathedral precinct, is a magnificent statue of the Duke of Wellington. Of course, everyone associates Nelson with Norfolk, but the association with Wellington is less well understood.

Throughout the city, the river Wensum winds its' way around, and much care has been taken to develop interest along its' banks.

Just opposite the point where this picture was taken, is a new development of entertainment complexes (cinema, bowling alley) and eating houses, and this development lies directly between the Carrow Road home of Norwich City Football Club, and the railway station.
Norwich is also home to one of the largest permanent street markets in the country, with over 200 covered stalls, set in a fine square, bordered by the new Forum library and arts centre, the ancient St. Peter Mancroft church, the Royal Arcade and the Lanes, and this, the Guildhall.

The Guildhall dates from the early 15th. century. It formerly had a tower, which collapsed in 1511.  It is no longer used as the town hall or court room.

Norwich and Wymondham are important places in our family. My husband's grandmother was a Kett - descended from the Kett's who were the main protagonists of the Kett Rebellion* in 1549.

*Kett's Rebellion was a revolt  largely in response to the enclosure of land. It began at Wymondham on 8 July 1549 with a group of rebels destroying fences that had been put up by wealthy landowners. One of their targets was yeoman Robert Kett who, instead of resisting the rebels, agreed to their demands and offered to lead them. Kett and his forces, joined by recruits from Norwich and the surrounding countryside and numbering some 16,000, stormed Norwich on 29 July and took the city.  Kett's rebellion ended on 27 August when the rebels were defeated by an army under the leadership of the Earl of Warwick at the Battle of Dussindale. Kett was captured, held in the Tower of London, tried for treason, and hanged from the walls of Norwich Castle on 7 December 1549. His brother was hanged from the spire of Wymondham church.

SWAFFHAM

Recently featured in the hit TV series, Kingdom, and childhood home of the Egyptologist, Howard Carter, Swaffham is no ordinary Norfolk town. It has a wonderful buzz, particularly on Saturdays when the weekly market is in full swing. With its beautiful Georgian buildings and magnificent church, plus the stunning countryside of The Brecks just on the doorstep, Swaffham is a great place to visit.

Only in Norfolk, could you see a circular 'market cross' standing in the middle of a triangular 'market square'! The market cross cost £400 when it was built in 1783.