Top Five Norfolk
The Normans left behind a rich heritage of monuments to their ecclesiastical piety and military prowess.
Norfolk is one of England’s greatest Norman counties and it was actually the Normans’ administrative system from which the county comes – the invaders resolved the issue of the North and South peoples by making Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Normans also changed the way we called ourselves – they were keen to have surnames (note the French first syllable) that indicated a flag under which you would fight or a duke to whom you had allegiance. That’s why we have the Christian mystic Julian of Norwich, who may well have come from a privileged background.
Norwich’s role as the county capital dates from the post Conquest era when the Normans built the grand castle here .Norwich became England’s second largest medieval city after London and today is our most complete medieval city.
Norwich Castle
There have been castles by the Romans, the Tudors and the Saxons, but it was the Normans who came to the country in 1066 who really knew how to make stone edifices that dominated their surroundings. They weren’t defending against invasion, but to show who the boss was – they made a statement of conquest. Norwich Castle was established in 1067 by William the Conqueror as a Royal palace.
It was built in Caen stone, rather than wood, which demonstrated Norwich’s wealth at the time. (Talking of castles, it was Norfolk-born Sir Edward Coke, Queen Elizabeth I’s Lord Chief Justice, and the man who began the family dynasty that resulted in the building of Holkham Hall, who coined the phrase, ‘An Englishman’s home is his castle’).
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is the most complete Norman cathedral in the UK, founded in 1096 by Bishop Herbert de Losinga. The main building and many of the monastic buildings were finished in 1140 by his successor Bishop Everard de Montgomery.
The Cathedral was actually built as a penance. De Losinga had bought the Bishopric and full of remorse he travelled to Rome to see the Pope who ordered the construction of the cathedral in order to be forgiven.
Castle Rising aerial Mike Page
Castle Rising near King’s Lynn was built by William D’Albini. The keep was completed circa 1140 and is among the finest surviving examples of its kind.
The Norfolk Broads is a network of mostly navigable rivers and lakes in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. Although the terms “Norfolk Broads” and “Suffolk Broads” are correctly used to identify specific areas within the two counties respectively, the whole area is frequently referred to as the Norfolk Broads.
Norfolk’s coastline:
Along Norfolk’s 90 miles of coastline there’s lots of variety to enjoy, from stunning beaches with pristine sand, to soaring cliffs, shingle spits, saltmarshes and estuaries.The coast includes an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and many nature reserves, as well as seaside resorts
At 112 miles long, the Norfolk Coast Path covers some stunning areas along Norfolk’s coastline and stretches all the way from the Lincolnshire/Norfolk border in the west to Hopton-on-Sea in the south east..
King’s Lynn: is a ‘Hanseatic’ town and once one of England’s most important ports. Full of maritime history you will find old merchants’ houses, cobbled lanes and historic buildings, including the Custom House which overlooks the harbour.
Houghton Hall: Built in the 1720s for Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s First Prime Minister, Houghton Hall is one of the finest Palladian Houses in England. It is a showcase of the work of architects James Gibbs and Colen Campbell, complemented by the richly ornamented interiors of William Kent, and furnished to reflect Walpole’s growing wealth and power. The Hall is the home of the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, Walpole’s descendent, and his family.
Surrounded by traditional parkland, Houghton has a spectacular herd of white fallow deer. The award winning five acre Walled Garden includes a spectacular double-sided herbaceous border, a formal rose parterre, and a rustic temple designed by Julian and Isabel Bannerman. There is also a sculpture park featuring an impressive collection of contemporary sculptures acquired by Lord Cholmondeley.
World renowned artists take over its gardens and historic interiors every year from April to October for major exhibitions showcasing a full range of sculpture, paintings and other works of art and in 2024 Houghton stages two major solo exhibitions.
Destination – England
