Twenty Stories - Step into the Story

Jack Valentine is a Norwich and Norfolk folklore legend with a unique tradition that is still followed today. 

Emma de Gauder, a Norman noblewoman, at just 16 years old, held Norwich Castle when it was besieged by William the Conqueror.

Norwich-born Pablo Fanque was a talented British equestrian performer and the first recorded Black circus owner in England.

Known as England’s first female journalist and first female sociologist as well as being a notable political, slavery abolitionist and feminist writer- Harriet wrote over 1,600 articles and many books.

Medieval writer and mystic Julian of Norwich was the first woman published in the English language. 

Thomas Browne was a polymath, physician and philosopher whose library formed part of the founding collection of The British Library. 

Robert Kett, along with his brother, set up a rebel army camp at Mousehold in Norwich against land enclosure laws.

Rumsey Wells was a successful hatmaker, crafting award-winning hats and caps as a partner in his father’s firm T. Wells & Son.

An eclectic architect, George Skipper saw architecture as art and took much inspiration from history and classical architecture. 

Samuel Bignold was Secretary of Norwich Union, Mayor of Norwich four times, a supporter of the arts and responsible for saving Norwich Castle from demolition. 

Edith Cavell’s WWI story captured the hearts of people from around the world being recognised as a true heroine for her work.

Amelia Opie has been described as the most respected woman fiction writer of the 1800s and 1810s, a leading abolitionist and philanthropist.

Prison reformer Elizabeth Fry is probably one of the most famous women Quakers- a pioneering woman whose work led to reforms across the world.

Caroline Colman worked as a welfare champion, significantly influencing social welfare for the employees of Colman’s Mustard at Carrow Works.

To this day it remains a mystery how Peter the Wild Boy travelled 100 miles by himself from Hertfordshire to Norwich in 1751.

Margaret Fountaine was a well-travelled lepidopterist who detailed her life and travels 12 volumes of her diaries with sketchbooks.

Margaret Paston has been described by historian Diane Watt as the “most prolific letter writer in medieval England”.

Margie was a social worker for the American Red Cross in Norfolk during WWII and a prolific letter writer.

Anna Sewell was the Norfolk author of beloved 50-million best seller Black Beauty, published by local publishers Jarrolds of Norwich.

John Crome was a founding member of the Norwich School of Painters. His work features in the collections of public art galleries worldwide.