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Britain Update #29 Welcome friends, its time to put the kettle on, settle into a comfortable armchair, and enjoy the best of Britain with Britain Update. But before you do, please take the time to forward this newsletter to someone who loves Britain as much as you do. *******************
******************** ********************* Norwich was founded by the Saxon North Folk ("North Folk" became "Norfolk") at the confluence of the Yare and Wensum rivers sometime around the 6th century. The name Norwich first appeared in the early 10th century. By the time of the Norman Conquest the river link made Norwich the third largest city in England after London and York. William the Conqueror built a castle at Norwich in 1067, using forced labour, and the present stone castle was built on the same mound some 60 years later. When the castle ceased to be of defensive use it was put to work as the county gaol, a position it held 1220-1887). It is now a museum housing local art, silver, glass, and porcelain, as well as archaeological remains and armour. The dungeon and castle battlements may be visited. In 1095 the bishopric of East Anglia was moved from Thetford to Norwich, and work was begun on the cathedral. The cathedral was added to and repaired for several centuries. A disastrous fire caused considerable damage in the 13th century, and in the 14th century the spire collapsed. The interior, however, remains wonderfully intact, and presents a superb example of Norman architecture. The bishop's throne behind the high altar is the oldest in England, and it contains fragments of the 8th century Saxon cathedral at North Elmham. Just outside the cathedral is the grave of Edith Clavell, a nurse executed in 1915 for spying by the Germans, after she helped prisoners to escape from a Belgian hospital. Norwich has 33 churches surviving from the Middle Ages, most built during the prosperous years when Norfolk was a centre of the wool trade. St. Peter Mancroft is blessed with a superb hammer-beam roof and 15th century stained glass, while two other churches, St. Mary Coslany and St. Julian's, date from Saxon times. The prosperous wool merchants did more than build churches - they built houses for themselves, and Norwich has some of the finest medieval town houses in England. The Bridewell Museum used to be the house of William Appleyard, the first mayor of Norwich in 1404. The name "Bridewell" means prison, and Bridewell House was a prison from 1583-1828. It is now a fine craft museum. Stranger's Hall, in Charing Cross, is another old merchant house, built in 1520. The name probably refers to its use by immigrant Flemish weavers. It is now a museum of domestic life. The centre of old Norwich was "Tombland". The name has nothing to do with graveyards, it comes from the old Saxon "tom", meaning empty. The "empty space" here was used as the town market square before the Norman Conquest. Now Tombland houses several fine Georgian shops. The Maids Head Hotel in Tombland dates back to the Middle Ages, and boasts that Queen Elizabeth I slept there in 1578. The 1407 Guildhall graces the "new" market place. It is now neighbor to the modern city hall, and the market place is still the shopping and administrative centre of the city after 900 years. Norwich
on the web: Norfolk
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My pick from the bookshelf this issue is "Exploring England's Heritage: Cumbria to Northumberland", by John Weaver. I own several of this excellent series "Exploring England's Heritage", published with the aid of English Heritage. This collection of regional gazetteers covers England from tip to toe; they are chock full of colour and black-and-white photographs, historical information, and superb line drawings and maps. The strengths of this series are historical and architectural information, well explained and atttractively illustrated.. Each entry is complete with map information and driving instructions. Although too large for a pocket guide, this volume will serve as a good trip planner or even a take-along guide if you carry a daypack or large bag, or if you are driving through the north country. Here's the URL http://www.britainexpress.com/Bookstore/Guidebooks/Cumbria-North.htm ******************************
In our
popular History and culture section, some of our new articles include:
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News
and Notes from the National Trust Special excursion fares have been introduced at several Trust properties. The Chartwell Explorer takes visitors from Sevenoaks, Kent, to Churchill's manor home of Chartwell. The £3 fare allows unlimited bus travel to any local Trust property, and a free pot of tea at Chartwell. You can also get a combined ticket from London, via Connex trains, which include rail fare and the Chertwell Explorer for only £13, or £8.50 for Trust members. Details at 08457 696996 Here's a special promtion for those on a cycling holiday - Petworth House (West Sussex) has announced that cyclists will be allowed free entry to the house. That's free, as in no charge whatever. Its hard to beat a deal like that! In April Midland Marine will be offering day trips from London (St. Pancras Station) to Sheffield, and then taking visitors on to Hardwick Hall in a vintage 1948 Bedford OB coach. Details at 08457 125678 East Riddleston Hall in West Yorkshire will open its new Millenium Garden this 13 April. The garden includes yew hedges, hazel and holly trees. An orchard with ten different varieties of Yorkshire apple trees will be enhanced with over 4000 bluebells. The garden took over 3 years of volunteer labour to create with the aid of National Trust gardening advsors and historic building experts. The National Trust has introduced a new group pass for elderley and disabled visitors. The new Links Pass gives half price admission for groups associated with local government or charities. Visits must be arranged ahead of time. Contact the National Trust Membership Department at PO Box 39, Bromley, Kent BR1 3XL A new Science Discovery Centre is opening at Woolsthorpe Manor, birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton. The 17th century farmhouse has been augmented with interactive displays which highlight Newton's scientific work. Killerton House, near Exeter in Devon will host an exhibition on historic underwear (yes, you read that right, I said underwear). The exhibition will feature men's and women's undergarments from a 17th century chemise to Victorian hoops and bustles, plus 20th century synthetic garments. The exhibition runs all through the month of March.
****************************** David
Ross
Contents © 2001 David Ross and Britain Express |
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