Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is responsible for running the affairs of the Society. The members of the Committee are also Trustees. The Committee receives recommendations from its subsidiary committees and representatives, and establishes coherent views and strategies.

Executive Committee Members

Jon Boon - Chair

David Taylor - Honorary Secretary and Vice Chair

Neil Sturgeon - Honorary Treasurer

Alan Theobald - Chair of the Civic and Environment Committee

Michael Jordan - Chair of the Strategic Planning and Transport Committee

Karen Watling

John Howkins

Willem Buttinger

Brian Horner

Chief Administrative Officer: Rachel Kirk

Building Conservation Committee

Chair: Simeon Jackson

The BCC considers new development and its effect on existing heritage, as well as working towards preserving and enhancing existing historic buildings and identifying new uses. The city contains one of the oldest medieval street plans and features over 1,500 listed buildings; from a Town Planning perspective, these can create challenges for new developments, but working with the City Council and Norwich Preservation Trust, the committee promotes continuing use of older buildings in the city.

Projects that the committee have been progressing include working with City Council to update the Local List outside the ring road, working with the Norwich Preservation Trust on developing schemes for buildings of architectural interest such as on Elm Hill and, in conjunction with the SP&T and PAC, considering the implications of planning policy such as The Greater Norwich Local Plan the impact of specific planning proposals such as Anglia Square and St Mary’s Works.

Planning Appraisal Committee

Chair: Jon Boon

The PAC reviews and comments on planning decisions to the City Council on behalf of the Society, with a particular focus on larger developments and those involving demolition or significant alterations or affecting listed buildings. The committee’s overarching goals are to protect the important architectural heritage of Norwich and to ensure that new development is of high quality and will become our city’s legacy for the future.

The Planning Appraisal Committee also oversees the Society’s involvement in the steering group of the Design and Craftsmanship Awards; biennial architectural awards which promote high quality new design by celebrating the best of Norfolk and Norwich’s new building and conservation projects. Another major ongoing project led by a sub-group, and with the input of the PAC, is scrutinising proposed development to argue for the best outcome at Anglia Square. Working alongside other heritage and community organisations, the Society acted as a Rule 6 party and presented evidence to the public inquiry and continues to actively promote an acceptable and sustainable solution for the site.

Strategic Planning and Transport Committee

Chair: Michael Jordan

The SP&T focuses on ‘big matters and the future’ by initiating actions and responding to official consultations in the context of a longer-term view of our city. It’s a hinge-point between the heritage of the past and the development of the future, seeking to influence decisions by being informed by the past and inspired by the opportunities ahead.

Recent projects have included supporting a survey of the perceptions of employers and employees about working in Norwich, a paper on various rail-based transportation opportunities, and in early 2021 writing Norwich Society’s response to the Greater Norwich Local Plan. The next big opportunity is as a stakeholder in the East Norwich Masterplan, which will cover the redevelopment of the large area that includes the Colman’s site, the Deal Ground and Utilities site.

Civic Environment Committee

Chair: Alan Theobald

The CEC seeks to maintain Norwich’s unique character by undertaking regular studies and audits of aspects of the civic environment, both natural and built. Their findings are published on the Society’s website and sent where appropriate to the City Council.

The most recent project has been the preparation of an atlas and directory of Norwich parks and open spaces, and the next project will be a study of weathervanes. Previous projects have included views from strategic viewpoints and river bridges, city centre seating and clocks and sundials. The Committee also receives reports from the Society’s representatives on the Mousehold Heath Conservators and the River Wensum Strategy Delivery Group.

Publicity & Events Committee

Chair: Vanessa Trevelyan

The PEC’s aims are to support the Society's chief Administrative Officer CAO to provide sociable and informative events for members, and to raise awareness of the Society amongst the public. The CAO puts together the Society’s popular annual events programme of outings, city tours, and talks, and is also responsible for publicising these events, the overall work of the Norwich Society and inspiring the public with our passion for Norwich. The group meets a couple of times each year.

During lockdown the committee established a YouTube channel with recorded talks and launched live online events. The PEC is also responsible for the Society’s social media platforms, providing content and engaging with 7,000 followers on Facebook and 1,200 on Twitter.

The Publications Working Group

Chair: David Bussey

The Norwich Society's Publications Working Group is responsible for commissioning and writing articles for, designing and editing the Society's twice yearly membership magazine Aspects of Norwich.

The Publications Working Group is looking for another member to work on Aspects of Norwich (twice yearly) and any other publications it might take on. Meetings generally take place online and there is work and consultation to do between meetings – including liaising with authors, tracking down illustrations and editing of texts. Current members of the group are David Bussey, Mary Ash, Alan Metters, Vicky Manthorpe, Carole Rawcliffe and Simon Gooch. Some academic, writing or archival experience would be an advantage. Please contact David Bussey at d.g.r.bussey@btinternet.com

The Norwich Society Book Club

Coordinator: Kala Nobbs

The Norwich Society Book Club meets monthly from September to May and discusses pre-selected books and related topics about Norfolk and Norwich's history.  

Meetings take place on Mondays at 2.30pm in the Cafe Royal at the Theatre Royal, Theatre Street Norwich NR2 1RL


Monday February 23rd Lost Villages of Norfolk. Cameron Self (as this is a slim work, Stephen Wade's Lost to the Sea, on Norfolk & Suffolk, or Deserted Villages of Norfolk by Davison would be good companion pieces)

Monday April 13th Matthew Williams, Masterful Mister Collins, City Engineer

Monday May 25th Sylvia Townsend Warner: The Corner that Held Them and/or The Flint Anchor. There’s also the Claire Harman biography of her.

Threads, the book about John Craske by Julia Blackburn, also has some coverage of STW.

We are a relaxed and committed small group of six at full complement currently, who enjoy reading and discussing books relating to Norwich and Norfolk history. We could do with some fresh faces and viewpoints: anyone new who is interested in joining us is warmly invited to come along. Contact Kala Nobbs for more details if you would like to join.

Find out more and read past Book Club reviews

PARTNERSHIPS

The Norwich Society collaborates with a number of groups and has representatives in organisations with similar goals to effect positive change and champion the historic character of the city. Below is an outline of our main partnerships.

The Norwich Society additionally works closely with other community groups and is currently participating in proposals including the the East Norwich Masterplan and the Transport for Norwich Consultation.

Design and Craftsmanship Awards

Since 2019, The Norwich Society has joined with The Norfolk Association of Architects and Civic Voice to organise the Design and Craftsmanship Awards - biennial awards inspired by previous schemes run by the organisers such as our Design Awards. The DCAs aim to celebrate outstanding architecture in Norfolk across Housing, Non-Residential, Conservation, Community and Student categories.

Representatives: Jon Boon, Mary Ash and the Society’s Chief Administrative Officer.

designandcraftsmanshipawards.org.uk

Norwich Heritage Alliance

The Norwich Heritage Alliance was set up in 2017 as a legacy of Norwich HEART (Heritage, Economic and Regeneration Trust). The group is formed from organisations with an interest in Norwich’s heritage as a networking and collaborative way to raise awareness of Norwich’s cultural offering.

Representative: Vanessa Trevelyan

Norwich Preservation Trust

The Norwich Preservation Trust was formed in the 1960s as a joint venture between Norwich City Council and The Norwich Society with the primary purpose to preserve and restore historic buildings in the city. It regards itself as a ‘restorer of last resort’ and often takes on commercially non-viable projects with properties owned by the City Council. The Trust has saved buildings including Augustine Steward House in Tombland, a 16th Century Merchant’s House in Fye Bridge Street, and most recently a historic house on Elm Hill.

Representatives: Member of Building Conservation Committee.

norwichpreservationtrust.co.uk

Heritage at Risk

The Heritage at Risk project reviews and monitors the condition of critical buildings in the city which are considered to be ‘at risk’ due to their poor condition or long-term empty status. It aims to work proactively with building owners to try and bring identified buildings back into use or into a good state of repair. The meetings are chaired by the City Council and have representatives from The Norwich Society and others concerned with the heritage of the city.

Representative: Member of Building Conservation Committee.

https://www.norwich.gov.uk/pla...

River Wensum Strategy Board

After extensive public consultation, this strategy was launched in 2018. Led by Norwich City Council, it’s a joint project with the Broads Authority, Norfolk County Council, the Environment Agency, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, The Norwich Society and other interested partners. The strategy’s vision is to enhance the natural and historic environment of the River Wensum, as well as increasing access and use for the benefit of all and to strengthen the city’s growth, vitality, investment attraction and visitor economy.

Representative: David Taylor

https://forms.norwich.gov.uk/d...

Mousehold Heath Conservators

Norwich City Council owns Mousehold Heath, the city’s largest open space, but responsibility for its management rests with the Mousehold Heath Conservators. The Society has the right to appoint one of the twelve conservators.

Representative: Willem Buttinger

https://www.norwich.gov.uk/par...

Civic Voice

The Norwich Society is a member of Civic Voice - the national body of civic societies which aims to make places more attractive, enjoyable and distinctive and promote civic pride. Civic Voice helps give local groups a national voice through lobbying, speaking out in the media, undertaking research and building partnerships; combining community action with sense of place for the benefit of everyone.

Representative: Michael Jordan

www.civicvoice.org.uk