The latest Aspects of Norwich is now in the shops!

Aspects of Norwich, Autumn 2021 is now available to buy.

As ever, the publication showcases a variety of topics across Norwich’s history, this time including Will Kemp’s ‘Nine Daies Wonder’ in 1600, through to the garden nurseries of Eaton in the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as a book review of ‘Colonel Unthank’s Norwich: A Sideways Look at the City’.

The book is priced at £5 and can be bought from Jarrold or City Bookshop.

Book our live online talk '150 years of Sewerage in Norwich' for FREE - 16th December at 10:30am

Booking for our next online Historians Talk '150 years of Sewerage in Norwich' is now open.

December 16th, 10:30am / online

The city’s first public sewerage system opened exactly 150 years ago last August, but how were the major geological and topographical challenges overcome in building it? Did it work? Has the system been changed or extended since then?

While preparing on a book about subterranean Norwich, Matt became intrigued by the depth and size of some of Norwich’s sewers, part of a hidden underground system we completely rely on, but hardly ever think about. In this talk, he draws together fragmentary information from a multiplicity of written and visual sources, and has crossed the city looking for manhole covers, to tell the story he calls ‘Norwich’s Netherflow’.

The talk is FREE, but must be booked in advance.

BOOK TICKETS HERE!

Norwich Society releases statement about new Anglia Square proposals

The Norwich Society has put together a statement of interim comments on the new Anglia Square proposals, covering aspects including our approach, viability, sustainability and design which was sent to Councillors and Council Officials in November 2021.

New Norwich Society Report Released on Norwich's Parks and Open Spaces

For many people, the restrictions of the pandemic over the past few years have brought a renewed interest and understanding of the importance of nature and the benefits of spending time outdoors. Norwich residents are lucky to have great variety of parks and open spaces, and these have been the focus of a new report produced by the Society's Civic Environment Committee.

DCA 2021 Award and Commendation Recipients Announced

The award ceremony for the 2021 Design and Craftsmanship Awards took place on 14th October 2021 at The Assembly House in collaboration with The Norfolk Association of Architects and Civic Voice.

This 2021 awards were judged across categories – Housing, Non-Residential, Conservation and Community as well as an inaugural Student award. The Sir Bernard Feilden Award was presented by The Norwich Society in recognition of excellence in alterations and restoration of a historic building in Norwich.

A list of Award and Commendation recipients and video of the event are available:

SEE THE LIST OF RESULTS

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOUT THE EVENT

Our next AGM is announced for September 22nd

The Norwich Society's next AGM is being planned for for Wednesday September 22nd from 7pm at The Forum, Norwich.

the event itself will be socially distanced with a limited capacity, we are implementing a postal vote system to ensure everyone can take part. Members will receive a voting ballot paper as well as other documentation in the post.

Public documentation can be viewed here.

Booking is open for our Heritage Open Days talk

Celebrating Norwich's Architectural Heritage of the Future

Join Vanessa Trevelyan as she reflects back on previous centuries and looks at the modern buildings that we hope will be the architectural heritage of the future, many of which have won Norwich Society Design Awards.

This year the Society has collaborated with the Norfolk Association of Architects and Civic Voice in the 2021 Design and Craftsmanship Awards, and this talk will include some of the nominations for these most recent awards.

This talk is free, but must be pre-booked.

Find out more and book here.

Our latest 'Aspects of Norwich' publication is now for sale!

Aspects of Norwich, Spring 2021 covers a huge range of topics about Norwich’s history from the modern stained glass in Norwich Cathedral, a look at the city’s Black History and a discussion of how the geology of Anglia Square has impacted its development. The wonderful archive image on the front cover shows Norwich Railway Station as it appeared in 1955, with thanks to the George Plunkett collection.

It's available to buy for £3.50 from Jarrold and City Bookshop, and our members get a copy of all our publications for free... find out more membership here.

Press Release: Norwich Society Concerned by Plans to Weld Carrow Bridge Shut

Civic watchdog The Norwich Society has expressed concern at Norfolk County Council’s hasty attempt to get the 98-year-old Carrow Bridge welded shut – thus ending the city’s centuries-old history as a port connected by river to the North Sea.

Read the full Press Release here

Nominations for the Design and Craftsmanship Awards 2021 are now open!

The Norwich Society, The Norfolk Association of Architects and Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement, have launched the search for the best new architecture in the county, in the lead up to the announcement of their 2021 Norwich + Norfolk Design and Craftsmanship Awards. These biennial awards celebrate outstanding buildings and places in the county. A presentation ceremony will be held this autumn.

Find out more on the DCA website: designandcraftsmanshipawards.org.uk

Book free tickets for our event on Miriam Pratt - a Norwich Suffragette

In our next live online talk, Gill Blanchard will discuss what part Norwich played in the long fight for female suffrage. She will focus on the story of Miriam Pratt, a Norwich teacher from a working class background whose suffragette activism led to her being imprisoned under the notorious Cat and Mouse Act. She will talk about her research for the event and what sources she used.

The event will be on Thursday 27th May at 10:30am and will be FREE to attend, although booking is required.

More information and booking details can be found on our events page.

Response to Anglia Square latest - read our Press Release

Following Weston Homes announcement last month that they will no longer be challenging the Secretary of State’s rejection of their plans for Anglia Square in the High Court, The Norwich Society looks forward to seeing a better way forward for the area.

Read the Press Release release here

Our latest publication looks at 21st century architecture, available to buy from May

A wide range of high quality architecture has been constructed in Norwich since the turn of this century, from iconic landmarks such as The Forum to brownfield developments which have transformed the city centre such as Chantry Place (formerly Chapelfield). Norwich has a unique and historic centre, and this booklet brings together some of the best examples of modern design which will become the city’s legacy for the future.

Available from City Bookshop and Jarrold from May 2021

Read the Press Release here

School’s Out - watch the latest Exploring Norwich video tour

By Vanessa Trevelyan

A tour of some of the interesting sites and buildings associated with learning over the centuries.

Norwich can claim to be one of the most scholarly cities in England, with two universities, one of the earliest public schools, the most popular library in Britain, plus many other places where formal and informal learning can take place from writing to dancing.

Watch on YouTube

Norwich Guildhall - Watch the latest virtual Historians talk

A Tour of Norwich Guildhall

by Richard Matthew

Richard Matthew, a former Guildhall guide takes us on a virtual tour of this important, but often overlooked and taken for granted building located in the centre of Norwich. The tour focuses on the physical history of the building in the city from the 15th Century through to the present day.

WATCH THE VIDEO