What to See & Do at Norfolk Heritage Open Days
What to See & Do at Norfolk Heritage Open Days
by Katie Thompson
Every September, Heritage Open Days opens up a world of historic buildings and captivating stories for FREE. And Norfolk’s is the biggest programme in the country!
This year (11 – 20 September), you can discover hidden gems, take guided tours, and join exciting activities, exhibitions and talks. Delve into the lives of Norwich’s pioneering figures- including those spotlighted in VisitNorwich’s ‘Twenty Stories. One City’ series– and discover how these incredible names have shaped the city we know today.
Whether you’re a family searching for free things to do or budding history buffs ready to uncover untold tales, here’s what to see and do at Norfolk Heritage Open Days!
Discover how an ordinary woman became the revered medieval mystic Julian of Norwich
Norwich
Letters Home: The Everyday Correspondence of Red Cross Medical Social Worker Margaret (Margie) Fahey McGrath
Monday – Saturday, American Library, 10am – 5pm
Delve into the letters and memories of American Red Cross Medical Social Worker Margaret (Margie) Fahey McGrath at the American Library.
Based at 231st United States Army Air Forces Station Hospital in Wymondham, Margie’s original letters and photographs will take centre stage, alongside the role of women during WWII, in a dedicated display, explored through never-before exhibited Oral History Interviews, tailored talks and original creative writings inspired by Margie and those like her.
Julian of Norwich – Anchorite to Global Phenomenon
11 September, St Peter Mancroft, 11am (pre-booking required)
As one of the city’s most important literary figures, Julian of Norwich’s anchoress cell has long been a site of pilgrimage.
You can find out more about this extraordinary ordinary woman (and her long-lasting legacy) with a talk from guide Keith Carlton. Be taken on a journey from medieval to modern Norwich, by way of the French Revolution, presbyterian Edinburgh, Charles III’s coronation and even Call the Midwife!
Ridge to River Tour
11 September, from St John Sepulchre (Ber Street), 11am (pre-booking required)
The Ridge to River tour explores the lives of people who have impacted Norwich’s history, be them cattle drovers or industrial pioneers.
Start your journey on the ridge of Ber Street, the site of medieval cottages and ‘village’ life on the fringes of the city’s walled boundaries. Then traverse hundreds of years as you encounter the Black Tower, Wilderness Pleasure Gardens, Carrow School (a legacy of the Colman family) and the River Wensum.
You’ll find Paston House on Elm Hill, once home to the eponymous prolific letter writing family
King Street History Walk
12, 14 & 17 September, 168 King Street, various times (pre-booking required)
As one of the oldest streets in the city, King Street has been a hub for industry since Saxon times.
Starting at Grade II-listed 168 King Street, you’ll uncover the human stories behind the flint and brick of 12th-century Music House, former merchant’s building Dragon Hall, the Julian Shrine, and the industries of Rose Lane. From the elite and wealthy like Robert Toppes and Jurnet the Jew to lives of poverty- everyday workers and those living in the cramped ‘slums’ and yards.
Tour of Strangers’ Club (Paston House)
13 & 20 September, Strangers’ Club, 11am – 3pm
Built in the mid-1500s by mayor of Norwich Augustine Steward, Strangers’ Club (as it stands today) has played host to many distinguished visitors- including Elizabeth I and letter writers John and Margaret Paston.
Named for the Strangers, Dutch and Walloon tradespeople who made Norwich their home in Elizabethan times, today the building is home to the Strangers’ Club, welcoming new people to Norwich, and boasts one of the finest oak beamed ceilings in the city.
Tour of Earlham Hall
13 & 20 September, Earlham Hall, 10am, 11.30am & 2pm (pre-booking required)
Step back in time with a short, guided tour of Earlham Hall, a stunning Grade II-listed 16th-century country house located in the grounds of UEA.
Once home to the prominent Gurney family, including remarkable prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, Earlham Hall boasts a series of incredible stories, not to mention intriguing architectural gems. Where else can you see a rare donkey wheel and12-sided room?
Hear about the life of William Darby- aka Pablo Fanque- from social historian Bruce Lindsay
Tour of Old Carrow House
14 & 16 September, Carrow House, 10.30am, 11.45am & 1.30pm (pre-booking required)
Once home to the Colman family (of Colman’s Mustard, of course), The Shoebox Experiences is bringing to life the tales of Old Carrow House.
Glimpse the lives of this industrial family beyond the brand- their influence shaped Norwich through innovation, enterprise and philanthropy- did you know Caroline Colman pioneered workers’ wellbeing? Along the way, learn fascinating insights, details and anecdotes about historic spaces, elegant rooms and quiet corners.
Pablo Fanque: The Fabulous & Mysterious Victorian Showman
14 September, The Forum, 2pm – 3pm (pre-booking required)
Acrobat, death-defying ‘lofty leaper’, equestrian star. Pablo Fanque was the alter ego of Norwich-born William Darby.
A star who drew thousands to his shows, this Victorian showman even inspired The Beatles’ song ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite’. But it wasn’t all glamour- Fanque faced racism, bankruptcy, and the deaths of his wife and daughter. Here, social historian Bruce Lindsay explores the life of Britain’s first black showbiz entrepreneur.
A Black History of Norwich
17 September, St Peter Mancroft, 11am (pre-booking required)
Celebrating the diverse contribution of black people to the history of Norwich, knowledgeable tour guide Paul Dickson brings to life street traders, servicemen and slave abolitionists.
From circus impresario Pablo Fanque to the buzz of rhythm and blues and soul music brought by American soldiers during WWII. Not to mention 1960s US Airman Lucas who gave soul to Orford Cellar- played by Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart and more- and those involved in the end of the slave trade, like abolitionists Amelia Opie and Herriet Martineau.
Immerse yourself in the industries of Norwich’s past- from Colman’s Mustard to Rumsey Wells’ hats
The Pastons in Norwich Tour
18 September, from The Halls, 10.30am – 12.15am (pre-booking required)
Follow in the footsteps of Norwich family The Pastons as you retrace the streets of 15th century Norwich to the backdrop of their famous letters.
Listen to readings of the earliest and largest collection of documents detailing everyday lives. Hear how John Paston I and his wife Margaret’s battled for their son’s inheritance from Sir John Falstaff, family scandals, the first Valentine and the impact of the Wars of the Roses.
Free Entry to the Museum of Norwich
18 & 19 September, Museum of Norwich, 10am – 4.30pm
The Museum of Norwich offers a fascinating insight into Norwich’s social and industrial history- from iconic brands like Colman’s and Caley’s to the mysterious tales of Jack Valentine and Peter the Wild Boy.
Across ten galleries, you can explore interactive displays and immerse yourself in engaging stories that have made their mark on Norwich. There’s a recreated pharmacy with over 2,500 objects, a restored Jacquard loom, Start-Rite shoes you might have worn when you were younger, and a shopping ‘street’ home to recognised names like Rumsey Wells.
Free Entry to Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery
19 September, Norwich Castle, 10am – 5pm (pre-booking required)
Not only is Norwich Castle one of the most iconic landmarks in Norwich (and the UK’s most accessible castle), inside you’ll discover a wealth of history, through fascinating displays, immersive elements and captivating stories.
From the Norwich Friends Tapestry- a handcrafted continuation of the Bayeux Tapestry that depicts the bravery of 16-year-old Emma de Guader, to the dazzling collection of butterflies from the Fountaine-Neimy collection and magnificent oil paintings of Norwich School artist John Crome (supported by Samuel Bignold, who was also responsible for saving Norwich Castle from demolition).
Celebrate the Bicentenary of Norwich Quaker Meeting House
19 September, Quaker Meeting House, various times
Saturday 19 September marks 200 years of Norwich’s Grade II-listed Quaker Meeting House!
A historical location with links to famous quakers Joseph Gurney, Thomas Buxton and prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, quakers have been meeting on this site since the 1670s. Immerse yourself in the Quaker Meeting House’s ‘living history’ day, or visit from 13 – 20 September to enjoy events, music and refreshments, and an exhibition on this special space.
Admire the architecture of Norwich’s ‘Gaudi’ George Skipper along the seafront of Cromer
Norfolk
Free Entry to Anna Sewell House
11, 14, 16 & 18 September, Anna Sewell House, 10am – 2pm
As the birthplace of Black Beauty author Anna Sewell, Great Yarmouth’s Anna Sewell House delves into the life of this influential female author and one of the most-read books of all time.
Inside, you’ll find vintage copies of the first book to be written from an animal’s perspective (and first published by Jarrolds), alongside original hand-painted illustration slides produced for the first edition. What’s more, you can learn more about the impact of Anna and Black Beauty on animal welfare and how custodians Redwings Horse Sanctuary are preserving her legacy.
George Skipper in Cromer Tour
20 September, from Old Town Hall (Cromer), 2.30pm (pre-booking required)
Guided by popular tour guide Paul Dickson, uncover the legacy of local architect George Skipper in Victorian and Edwardian Cromer.
Once dubbed ‘to Norwich what Gaudi was to Barcelona’, Skipper is known for his attractive architectural designs, including the Royal Arcade, Jarrolds and Marble Hall. At the Norfolk coast, you’ll spot his style on buildings from the late 1880s to the 1930s in the town and on the seafront, most notably the Hotel de Paris.
