Information about the history of the City of Norwich will be posted here.
Norfolk, Diversity At Its Best
Norwich is unlike any other county in Britain since it has such diverse pursuits on offer to the general public. It is famous for the Norfolk Broads, where people participate in all forms of water sports and activities, and has many nature trails and wildlife watching venues right across the county from fenland and heathland to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
For those who are looking for historical sites and buildings too, Norfolk is fairly bursting at the seams with old buildings, ranging from Norwich Cathedral in the centre of Norwich, to Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth’s country retreat. In fact, there are even windmills and monasteries too so there must be something for everyone in this county.
Starting from the centre of Norwich we have:
Norwich Cathedral – this has been here for more than nine hundred years and it really dominates the city with a spire so tall that it is second only to Salisbury Cathedral in height. In the square surrounding the cathedral, shops sell everything from afternoon tea to that precious keepsake to take home.
Norwich Castle – William the Conqueror founded this place as a Royal Palace. The keep was started in 1094 and took a full twenty seven years to complete. Henry 1 stayed at the castle in 1103 so one can see that Norwich has a lot of royal connections going back over the past one thousand years.
Norwich Market – built in the 11th century, this market used to supply Norman merchants after the conquest. Although it is over nine hundred years old, this was not the original market which was some small distance away.
Today, this is one of the largest open air markets in the UK and it has been brought right up to date with a recent refurbishment. Expect such diverse items like hand made butter and ice cream to hippie style clothing here.
Great Yarmouth – this is not only a ubiquitous seaside resort, with all the attendant ‘kiss me quick’ style hats that one would expect, it is also a fully operational sea port. If someone is taking a boating holiday here, a quick trip across Braden Water takes some tiny vessels right past the port where ships look like skyscrapers in comparison. Not for the nervous for sure, but exciting all the same. Sailing right past the ships will take visitors directly into the heart of Norwich.
Wildlife Sanctuaries – these are in abundance in Norfolk with the RSPB at Snettisham being a favourite. The wildlife habitat here in the Broads is second to none and visitors can walk, cycle or boat into some of the most picturesque parts of Britain right here. Look for old windmills or ancient buildings crumbling as we speak. There are dykes, rivers and remote villages aplenty and each with its own version of natural beauty.
Finally …
There are so many things to see and do in Norfolk that it is impossible to list them all here. From walking and hiking to cycling and boating on the wonderful waterways, there is always something to do here no matter what the weather is up to.
