Twenty Stories. One Norwich. The City of Stories.
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.
Elizabeth Fry (1780 – 1845)
Prison reformer Elizabeth Fry is probably one of the most famous women Quakers- a pioneering woman whose work led to reforms across the world. In 1818 she became the first woman to give evidence to a committee of the House of Commons on London prisons. Her work saw better conditions for prisoners including men and women segregated, a school for the children of prisoners and clothes and warm supplies.
She also led changes for women prisoners travelling to the colonies, supplying them each with a bag for making patchwork quilts which could be sold on arrival to provide an income.
Step Into The Story- a city you don’t just read about, you experience
Join a Her Story Walk with Norwich Story Walks (£10, private tours available) to hear about Edith and many other remarkable women with links to Norwich. Visit Gurney Court off Magdalen Street to see Elizabeth’s Blue Plaque.
Did you know Elizabeth’s work also included setting up District Visiting Societies working with the poor, providing libraries for coastguards and a training school for nurses. Her work became very well-known and lead to the setting up of Ladies’ Committees in other towns in Britain and Europe, also attracting royal patronage?
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