Twenty Stories. One City. The City of Stories.
Samuel Bignold (1791 – 1875)
Third son of Thomas Bignold, founder of Norwich Union, Samuel succeeded his father as Secretary of Norwich Union in 1818, where he ran the company for almost 60 years. Mayor of Norwich four times (1833, 1848, 1853 and 1872), Samuel became known as ‘Father of the City’ for his support of the arts (including that of Norwich School of Artists’ John Sell Cotman), but crucially Samuel was the person responsible for saving Norwich Castle from demolition.
Did you know Samul Bignold is a man of firsts? In 1844, Samuel Bignold suggested promoting a railway link from London to Norwich- in 1849 the line was opened, with Samuel being on the first train. In 1853, he attended the inaugural meeting of the Jenny Lind Hospital as its President and in 1854 he laid the foundation stone of the Free Library on Guildhall Hill, the first public library in Britain. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1854.
Step Into The Story
- Visit Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery to see the Colman Art Galleries, home to the world’s largest collection of works by artists of the Norwich School of Artists.
- Join the Magnificent Marble Hall tour (£16.50pp) (entrance to Aviva, formally Norwich Union) with The Shoebox Experiences.
Marking twenty years of championing the city, VisitNorwich presents an ambitious year-long cultural celebration: Twenty Stories. One City. The City of Stories. Written by local guest authors our stories range from medieval rebels and mystics to pioneering reformers, artists, entrepreneurs and unsung heroes, these are the people who shaped Norwich – and whose legacy can still be discovered across the city today. Read the stories so far.
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