The Norwich Society

Events On-line Talks

Bridges of Norwich from Carrow Bridge to New Mills

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

By Vanessa Trevelyan

A tour of Norwich's bridges, comparing the bridges we see today with historic images.

Vanessa Trevelyan is a Former Chair of the Norwich Society, and presents this video as the Society's first virtual talk.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Historical Research: Making and Using Maps

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

By John Trevelyan

A look at how to use existing maps in historical research, as well as how to create maps to illustrate research findings.

John Trevelyan is Chair of the Society's Civic Environment Committee, and presents this video as the second in our Historians Virtual Talks Series.

Accompanying notes to this video can be downloaded here.

WATCH THE VIDEO

River Wensum: from Major Highway to Pleasant Backwater

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

A look at the history of the River Wensum

This video by Vanessa Trevelyan was originally created for Heritage Open Days 2020.

Watch on YouTube

Theatre in Norwich in the Long 18th Century

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

By Michael Blackwell

An exploration of what sorts of dramatic performances could be seen in Norwich, where these took place and the censorship theatre companies frequently had to deal with.

Michael has led on the coordination of the Society's Historians Group talks for a number of years. He has a particular interest in theatre and in this talk he shares his research on theatre in Norwich during what historians call 'The Long 18th Century', from the Restoration period in the early 17th century through to the Regency period in the early 19th century.

WATCH THE VIDEO

The Norwich Pub Detective: Evidence of Former Pubs & Associated Stories

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

By Jonathan Hooton

Norwich has had the reputation of a pub for every day. This claim is examined and taken as a starting point for finding out where they have all gone.

The Norwich Pub Detective examines the evidence still to be found to identify former pubs in the City of Norwich and its suburbs from the blindingly obvious to the obscure and quirky. It also is an excuse to discuss many of the interesting and intriguing stories from the past that surround our former pubs.

Jonathan Hooton is a City of Norwich Tour Guide, a former Head of Geography at Notre Dame High School and has a fondness for, and plenty of experience of pubs. He has been a regular feature in the Society's event programme, and had been scheduled to deliver both a live talk and a guided tour of Norwich pubs in the 2020 summer events programme.

WATCH THE VIDEO

300 Years of Pantomime in Norwich

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

By Michael Blackwell

A look at the history of pantomimes in Norwich over the past three hundred years. Grab a light-stick and a bucket of pick-and-mix and enjoy the presentation!

On behalf of the Norwich Society Historians Group, Vanessa, Jo and Michael would like to wish our growing band of members a very happy Christmas season…or at least as happy as it can be in the present trying circumstances! We thought we’d give our video release for December a seasonal theme - and what better than a trip to the pantomime!

WATCH THE VIDEO

The Undercrofts of Norwich

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

By Terry George

This talk is a voyage of discovery as Terry introduces viewers to the treasures hidden beneath our feet as we walk through the streets of Norwich.

There are in the region of 80 Undercrofts beneath the city of Norwich, Terry has managed to gain access to around 60 of them. Some are accessible to the public, for example at The Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell and Dragon Hall, but many are located underneath privately owned buildings, haven’t been visited in years and are all but forgotten.

Retirement has provided former teacher Terry George with an opportunity to explore the subjects he is passionate about. Terry’s talk follows on from an article in the Norwich Society’s Member magazine, Aspects of Norwich Autumn 2019, and was received with much enthusiasm and featured in the Eastern Daily Press. This publication can be purchased from The City Bookshop and Jarrold, see publications for details.

WATCH THE VIDEO

A Tour of Norwich Guildhall

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

By Richard Matthew

A virtual tour of this important, but often overlooked and taken for granted building located in the centre of Norwich.

Richard Matthew is a former Guildhall guide, and this tour focuses on the physical history of the building in the city from the 15th Century through to the present day.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Building Norwich

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

Building Norwich is the first video in our Exploring Norwich Series.

This video by Vanessa Trevelyan looks at the various building phases which have shaped Norwich through the centuries.

Watch on YouTube

Exploring Norwich's Textile History

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

Norwich was a centre of weaving as early as 1174 and, by the 1670's 50% of freemen were connected with the textile trade. This talk takes you round the sites involved and associated with this historic textile trade.

Our speaker, Vanessa Trevelyan is a past Chair of The Norwich Society but, perhaps more importantly an Honorary Life President of the Costume and Textile Association.

This video was recorded in March 2023.

WATCH THE VIDEO

NORWICH’S PARKS AND OPEN SPACES Some Interesting Historical Insights

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

John Trevelyan will tell us about The Norwich Society's Civic Environment Committee’s Atlas and Directory of the city’s more than 100 parks and open spaces—many of which have a fascinating and not well-known history. He will identify some of the clues to the past that we can discover for ourselves as we visit the places he will talk about.

John is a member and former chair of the Norwich Society’s Civic Environment Committee and led the project to produce an atlas and directory of parks and open spaces.

This talk was first presented live in January 2023 and recorded in March 2023.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Clocks, Sundials and Weathervanes

  • Open to all
  • Free (non-members) / Free (members)

This slideshow showcases 77 sites across Norwich where you can see clocks, sundials or weathervanes.

The Norwich Society has produced two reports about clocks, sundials and weathervanes, including directories listing the sites where they can be seen. SEE HERE to read and download Society reports.

WATCH THE SLIDESHOW