This year’s SAHGB Study Tour will take place on September 12th, 13th and 14th, visiting historic sites in Norwich and arranging coach transport for the party to view further fascinating locations in the surrounding areas of the city.
Thank you to those who have registered. As the programme and catering has now been confirmed, bookings are closed. Please look out for emails from the organising team if you are due to join us.
‘Norwich has everything – a cathedral, a medieval castle on a mound right in the middle, walls and towers, a … medieval centre with winding streets and alleys, thirty- five medieval parish churches and a river… it even has hills’ (Pevsner, The Buildings of England. North-East Norfolk and Norwich, 1962, p. 204)
Pevsner summed up the medieval character of Norwich, but it is also a fine Georgian city, noted by contemporaries as something of a garden city, with orchards and undeveloped spaces within the walls. Now it is a vibrant and youthful regional centre, gaining a major university campus, UEA (1963, Lasdun 1966-7; Feilden and Mawson; Norman Foster; Anthony Faulkner; Rick Mather), and since 2013 Norwich University of the Arts, founded in 1845 as Norwich School of Design. The city centre is compact and partly pedestrianised, with the permanent market dating back over 900 years nestled in a civic complex marked out by the Guildhall (1407-13; 1535) to the north; City Hall (1932-8, James and Pierce) and Memorial Gardens (with Lutyens War Memorial, 1927, relocated here) to the west; the rebuilt central library (Theatre Royal rebuilt 1935, Barton; remodelled 1970, Percival), Assembly House (enlarged 1754-5, Ivory and Burrough). To the south is the great bulk of the Norman castle keep in its mound, to the east, and beyond, with the cathedral close and the Great Hospital (1249) to the north-east.
The SAHGB warmly invites members to enjoy a 2.5 day tour this September, led by experts. The itineraries have been informed by a desire to highlight recent activity in the historic environment, including new listings, major conservation projects, new additions to historic structures and new understanding, as for example continues at Norwich cathedral. A day on foot in the city of Norwich will be combined with further travel to more rural sites by coach, to include Oxburgh Hall, Wymondham, and the Waveney Valley.
The tour’s formal dinner will be held at the Great Hospital, Norwich. Founded in 1249, the surviving buildings are based on the fourteenth and fifteenth century plans, centred on the church of St Helen’s which is effectively two Elizabeth wards bracketing the central space of the church. In the 1820s more almshouse ranges were added, the site has continued to grow during the twentieth century, and it continues to operate as a retirement home, albeit one with fifteen listed buildings. The survival of the archive has been recognised by its inclusion on the UNESCO UK Memory of the World register. There will be a brief tour prior to dinner in the refectory.
The SAHGB last toured Norfolk in 1991, and this is an opportunity to reflect on the nature of change since then. These range from a revised Pevsner, in two volumes, to the growth of the weddings and events sector for country houses and their estates, as well as regeneration investment in Norwich.
Provisional Itinerary:
All sites are subject to change, and the published information should be regarded as provisional. We may be able to schedule additional minor visits en route to the major destinations. On the final day, we will aim to return to the centre of Norwich and station around 4pm but please allow some time for contingencies if booking transport.
Access to sites:
This is a walking tour, with rapid turnaround times for coach stops. Please bear in mind that historic environments are not always possible to alter for modern access standards and stairs will be a feature of many of the sites on each day of the visit. Please indicate any mobility or access information if you are making a booking. The final programme will confirm access details.
Accommodation and meals:
Delegates are requested to book accommodation for themselves in good time, if needed.
The tour registration will include dinner at the Great Hospital on Friday; entry tickets where necessary; some catered light refreshments and lunch but NO overnight accommodation. There will be opportunities to buy other refreshments if you wish.
Stay - Visit Norwich offers suggestions for accommodation in central Norwich.
Members of the organising committee will be staying at Best Western Annesley House Hotel, Newmarket Road, if you wish to join us there (please note that there is no lift, for access). Otherwise there are several budget options within the inner ring road, as well as boutique and established Norwich institutions such as the Maid’s Head Hotel to explore.
Travel:
You should make arrangements for travel to attend the tour. Local journeys by coach essential to the itinerary on Friday and Saturday will be arranged by the SAHGB. We have arranged coach parking with the hosts, though car parking is unlikely to be possible.
Norwich has a mainline station and there are hotel and public car parks around the centre.
Those taking the coaches should be able to gather at meeting points in good time for boarding and departure. You will need either to walk to the Great Hospital or arrange a taxi for dinner on Friday evening. The final day will involve a programme by coach but will aim to return to central Norwich for around 4pm - if booking transport, we recommend that you allow some contingency when selecting a departure time.
Student Bursaries:
The SAHGB will offer up to 2 bursaries for students (18+) able to commit to attending the full tour. These cover the tour fee, though participants will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation if offered a bursary. Please contact info@sahgb.org.uk for details if you are interested in applying.
How to book: Please link to the registration form by clicking below.
The form will collect information about your booking.
We will hold a place for you for 7 days. When we receive the form, we will send you an email with an online payment link for what you are requesting.
Individual Tour Place: £275 for tour and celebratory dinner, including entry and coach booking to all places on final programme.
Student discounted place: £225 for tour including the benefits above.
Calling SAHGB Members!
We will be sending subscription renewal alerts in January and February, but you can use the ‘Renew Now’ form to carry on with your membership to the end of 2024 if desired.