Exploring Norwich

We drove to Norwich after the game against Essex at Old Brentwoods Cricket Club, Brentwood, arriving late at night. On 10 July I decided to skip the cricket and explore Norwich instead.

Outside the door of the Travelodge Hotel where we stayed is part of the city wall built between 1337 and 1344. The wall also included gates and towers.

Several sections of the wall still exist. Norwich had been a town long before the 14th century but much of the building was undertaken during the mediaeval period.

Wandering around the streets of Norwich in July 2015 you will be greeted by a series of dragons, large like this one. Trail maps are available to locate the 84 large dragons which are on display from 21 June until 5 September. Schools in the area helped design each dragon and each dragon has an individual name. There are also 120 smaller versions mainly in shop windows. The dragons will be auctioned for charity in October. They are bright and colourful and I came across groups of children, and adults, following the dragon trail. In 2013 models of gorillas took over the city.

I found a nest of baby dragons in the children's section of the Norfolk Library. Story Time was on when I was there and the stories, not surprisingly, were about dragons.

Within the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library can be found the 2nd Air Division (USAAF) Memorial Library. Although it is in the library building it is a separate library though books are borrowed via the library charging system. The library commemorates the strong relationship that developed between the people of East Anglia and men in the American Air Force stationed in the area. There were a number of different divisions but the 2nd Air Division maintained the strongest contacts with Norwich. The library consists of books relating to America and relies on monetary donations, often from the families of former servicemen, to keep the book stock up to date. There is also an archive of photographs and documents relating to the Americans in Norwich during World War II. The money to set up the library as a memorial to the men who served in this region and the friendships formed with the local people was initially provided by the Association.
 
Norwich has many churches. Some still hold services while the buildings of former churches are used for other purposes. St Margaret's church was an art gallery when I visited while the church of St John Maddermarket is hired out for functions and activities.

Churches such as St Stephen's have along history in Norwich dating back to Saxon times. The Domesday Book in 1086 records 25 churches in Norwich. Much of the rebuilding of this church was undertaken in the 15th century.

Another prominent church in the city is the church of St Peter Mancroft.

The Catholic Cathedral is a recent addition in church history terms as it was constructed in 1877 as a gift to the city by the 15th Duke of Norfolk.

Norwich Cathedral is also a most impressive building and has been in existence for 900 years. Part of the Norman church still exists but the church was extended in the 14th and 15th centuries necessitated after the collapse of the original spire.

A new extension has recently been added incorporating the entrance to part of the former monastery - a blending of old and new.

It is a beautiful building.

A link with Norwich's industrial past is the font now used for baptisms. When Caley's Chocolate factory closed in 2004 the former copper vat used for making chocolate was donated to the Cathedral.

The cloisters are complete and you can imagine the monks in times long ago walking slowly along the corridors.

On the ceiling of the church and the cloisters are these carved figures - hundreds of them.

The profile of the church stands out among the surrounding buildings.

Another prominent building in Norwich is Norwich Castle. The building of the castle began in 1047. Originally this Norman castle was a wooden structure surrounded by deep defensive ditches. The stone castle later replaced the wooden structure.

A map showing the layout of castle buildings in the 1120s.

When the castle was built the market was relocated so that it could be in full view from the castle. This remains the case today.

Stephen Street is one of the main shopping streets in the city but there are also other streets and a network of lanes providing shopping opportunities.

The River Wensum runs through the city. It was originally used for trade - a means for bring goods to and from the town.

Pull's Ferry was one of the crossing points on the river. Stone from France for building the Cathedral was delivered by boat to this point and then carted to the site. Obviously there was no dragon guarding the entrance at the time.

Like all cities, towns and villages there is some interesting housing and architecture.

Norwich is a great city to visit and explore.