Norwich a Treasure of Royal Facts and Fascinations

To celebrate the Christening of Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge, 5th July at Sandringham Norfolk, VisitNorwich looks at Norwich's fascinating royal history. Norwich is a royalist's treasure trove of unusual facts, places and collections to discover from William the Conqueror onwards, including Princess Diana's Christening robe and many items owned and worn by Queen Victoria.

1.         Norwich Castle was founded as a Royal Palace by William the Conqueror. In 1094 William II began the build of the stone Keep which was completed in 1121. Henry I celebrated Christmas at the newly completed castle in 1121. Today Norwich Castle & Art Gallery is home to some of the most outstanding collections of fine art, archaeology and natural history in the UK, including breathtaking displays of gold from Queen Boudicca's time.

2.         The Maids Head Hotel has been a place of hospitality since the early 12th Century, located in one of the oldest inhabited parts of Norwich, when the early Norman Bishops of Norwich established a guest house. Its guests over the centuries have included The Black Prince (eldest son of King Edward III), Catherine of Aragon, Queen Elizabeth I and Admiral Lord Nelson.

3.         Norfolk Museum's Service's Costume and Textile Collection at The Shirehall in Norwich holds many royal garments including Princess Diana's Christening gown and (in excellent condition) Queen Victoria's slippers (1840s & 1888), cape (1890), nightdress (1880s) and silk stockings.  It also holds a large number of royal commemorative items e.g. a corsage made from velvet from the Coronation robe of Elizabeth II worn during King Edward VIII's Coronation in 1937. All these items and more can be viewed by private appointment with a curator for free by calling 01603 493625 (3 visitors maximum; charge for groups of 4 +).
 

4.         A four acre walled garden dating back to the 12th century in the grounds of the Bishop's Palace is open to the public only for a few dates in summer for charity (open 5th July). This garden is one of Norwich's best secret gardens offering a small woodland walk, kitchen garden, ornate gardens, bamboo walk, grass labyrinth and boxed rose beds. A sprig of hebe from Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet was given to the wife of the Bishop of Norwich in 1840. This was propagated and now the plant thrives in the Bishop's garden for all to see.

5.         Norwich had a Royal Charter granted in 1158 by Henry II and in 1404, when it was one of the first town's in England to earn the rights granted by Henry IV Charter of Incorporation. The growth in the city's powers led to the building of The Guildhall, one of the largest and most elaborate medieval city hall's outside London. The building today can be toured each Friday http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/norwich-heart-7469943119

6.         Charles II visited Norwich in 1671, reviewed the local militia from The Guildhall balcony overlooking the Market Place and dined at St Andrews Hall, a former Friary, purchased by the City from Henry VIII after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

7.         George VI visited Norwich to open the new City Hall on 29 October 1938, witnessed by the largest ever gathering of Norwich citizens in the Market Place. City Hall is an Art Deco masterpiece and was dubbed by the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as the finest civic building of the interwar period. George VI became the first monarch to attend a Football league match, when he visited Norwich City FC's Carrow Road ground on the same day.

8.         Crowds gather annually at Sandringham to watch the Royal family arrive for the Christmas Day service and this Sunday 5th July, well wishers are invited to see Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge from the paddock outside the church of St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham.  Sandringham is located 42 miles from Norwich.

~ Ends ~

Images

Image one: The Maids Head Hotel, Norwich
Image two: A pair of shoes, catalogued, Costume & Textile Collection, Norwich 

About VisitNorwich

VisitNorwich is the destination management organisation for the Norwich area. It is a private/public sector partnership and a not for profit organisation whose sole focus is to promote and develop the destination and support its membersthrough collaborative marketing, research, information and business advice.

For the benefit of the area as a whole, VisitNorwich strives to achieve: better profile and reputation locally, nationally and internationally; increased visitor spend; more investment; more jobs and better quality experiences for both visitors and residents.

Tourism is worth around £700 million per year to the Norwich area, supports over 9,000 jobs (Tourism South East, 2010).

In 2014 Norwich was named as one of Britain's Top 10 cities in The Telegraph Travel Awards.

In 2014 The Norwich Lanes was crowned Great British High Street of the Year in the city category. 

The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts was one of the six finalists for the prestigious Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2014.

The Millennium Library, based at The Forum in Norwich was named in 2014 (for the eighth year in a row) the busiest library in the UK. Figures collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA).

Annually the Writers' Centre Norwich and the University of East Anglia hold Literary Festivals which attract acclaimed authors from all over the world. The University of East Anglia's (UEA) first literary festival took place in 1991 and over the last 22 years has welcomed a host of award-winning authors, journalists, illustrators, scientists, economists, broadcasters and more.

In 2015 Norwich cultural venues play host to two thrilling exhibitions which will attract international audiences; Bacon and the Masters a collaborative exhibition with Le Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and Jeff Koons in collaboration with the Norfolk & Norwich Festival  at Norwich Castle.

In 2012 Norwich became England's first UNESCO City of Literature and the sixth in the world joining other great cities; Edinburgh, Dublin, Melbourne, Iowa City and Reykjavik. This accolade is a permanent status.

Norwich was a finalist in the Group Leisure Awards 2012, in the Best UK City category.

Norwich was placed 6th in volume of tourism day visits in England in 2011 (after London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Liverpool) and ahead of popular destinations like York, Brighton, Bristol, Sheffield and Chester.  17 million day visitors spent over £1/2 billion in 2011. Data from the 2011 Great Britain Day Visits Survey (GBDVS 2011).

Norwich was in the top 10 of UK places to shop (Venuescore 2011-12, The Javelin Group), having also been previously ranked 9th in the Experian Goad retail index and 8th on the CACI index.  The outstanding quality and diversity of the city's retail offer presents a major draw for visitors to the Norwich area.

VisitNorwich Ltd is a company limited by guarantee, a private/public sector partnership and a membership organisation representing the interests of a broad range of businesses across the visitor economy.  Its principal public sector stakeholders are Norwich City Council and South Norfolk Council.

VisitNorwich has been operational from 1st April 2005

For further information on Norwich and its surrounding area visit www.visitnorwich.co.uk, www.cityofstories.co.uk

Press information

For more information please contact Melanie Cook at VisitNorwich on 01603 727939 or melanie.cook@visitnorwich.co.uk