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.
Peter the Wild Boy (1713 – 1786)
To this day it remains a mystery how Peter the Wild Boy travelled 100 miles by himself from Hertfordshire to Norwich in 1751. Once a part of King George I’s royal household, he then went on to live comfortably on a farm before arriving in Norwich. Far from his native Germany, where he was found living like an animal in the forest, on arriving in Norwich he was arrested due to his inability to speak and wild appearance and imprisoned in The Bridewell. Following a fire at the prison in the same year, Peter was saved, recognised and returned safely to Hertfordshire.
Step Into The Story- a city you don’t just read about, you experience
Follow the story of Peter at The Museum of Norwich, and look out for a decorative red post with a carving depicting Peter outside the museum on Bridewell Alley. Then pop around the corner to Bedford Street for a drink in The Wild Man- so named after Peter.
Did you know Peter lived out his life very happily on a farm until he was 73 having been looked after well by various farmers over the following decades?
Turn The Page
New stories drop each month so make sure you never miss out by signing up to our monthly e-newsletters.
