The adventure continues in Norfolk, an English county whose history has blood, churches and castles: all the European staples in one convenient package.
Norfolk, a large county in the north of East Anglia, England, was on the day’s agenda. The county of Norfolk had a long history even before the Romans chased the revolting Iceni and their leader Boudicca after she burnt down London, in the first century.
Norfolk is full of history, history I vowed to uncover. A grand cathedral was explored, followed by roaming through the walls of an impressive castle, ending in a trip down memory lane in a museum of yesteryear. And of course, I found time for the beach.
Google Maps The route I took on Day 5, Norwich, Castle Rising Castle and King’s Lynn.
Stop 1: Norwich Cathedral
The Norwich area was settled by the Anglo-Saxons between the 5th-7th centuries. Norwich prospered as a trading town, even after it was burnt down by the Vikings in 1004. By the time the Normans crossed the channel, it was one of the largest and most prosperous cities in England, making it ideal for the construction of a grand cathedral.
The grand Norwich Cathedral.
The new Norman bishop, after buying his seat, decided to build a brand-new cathedral in his favorite style, Norman. The Norman phase was completed in 1145 and most of the layout of the cathedral today remains the same.
Norman style columns and English Gothic ceilings. I think I am in love. (I know, I’m a dork.)
Tragedy hit the cathedral many times. First there was a riot in 1272 and then the original spire came crashing down damaging the ceilings above the back of the cathedral. It was eventually decided to replace the flat wooden roofs with the arched stone ceilings that are seen today in the early 16th century. Another tragedy hit the cathedral, this time puritan mobs who removed anything that might be remotely Catholic, leading to the cathedral being abandoned from 1643 to sometime in the 1660s when the monarchy was restored to England.
The splendid high altar with its beautiful stained-glass windows…and some random guy buffing the floors.
A large two-story cloister (the only one of its kind in England) was begun in 1297 and finally finished in 1430 after an occurrence of the Black Death.
I have seen many a cloister and I must say, these are really fancy. (I think I may have become dorkier.)
Random cool thing I found. The Baptismal font was originally used to make chocolate. When the factory closed, the presented the font to the cathedral. Gives a new meaning to the phrase “I could just eat you right up.” Mmmmm…..chocolate flavored babies.
Stop 2: Castle Rising Castle
Trudging my way to the redundantly named Castle Rising Castle.
While there was plenty of other things to do in Norwich, I trudged onward to Castle Rising Castle (bit of a redundant name). Another Norman construction, the castle and its earthworks were constructed in the 12th century. The castle was constructed in an unimportant location with no strategic advantage. Essentially it was a fortified hunting lodge, surrounded by hunting grounds.
The keep or fancy hunting lodge.
Even for a fancy hunting lodge, massive resources were required in order to build the stone keep and its large earthworks and moat. The castle grew in importance during a rebellion against King Henry I when the earthworks were enlarged.
At least they warn you that this place is a death trap.
Pretty large hunting lodge. Each floor had a large room on it probably separated into smaller ones by curtains or something similar. The Great Hall would have been located most likely on the second floor (i.e., the one I’m taking this picture from) with a large storage room below, complete with its own well.
The castle passed down generations until it was sold to Queen Isabella of France after she was deposed as regent for her son King Edward III in 1330. She was cast out of the royal court to a regal life in Norfolk, Castle Rising Castle one of her many residences. During her stay, many the buildings within the castle, now foundations, were constructed, along with major renovations to the castle.
Walkways around the large rooms that can be found on every floor. Claustrophobic much?
After the Queens death, the castle passed through many hands, seeing many visitors as it returned to the status of hunting lodge. The castle fell into ruins beginning in the 16th century. This small castle is so worth the short trip from my next location.
Stop 3: King’s Lynn
King’s Lynn is a seaport and market town that was founded sometime in the 10th century at the mouth of the River Great Ouse, which flows into the North Sea. The exact etymology of the name, Lynn, is uncertain. “King’s” was added to the town’s name when the town that was ruled by a bishop was surrendered to King Henry VIII.
There are many attractions in King’s Lynn, and one could spend an entire day here. I only had an afternoon, so I focused on a few attractions.
Conveniently located next to the bus station, is the town museum. This is truly a museum of yesteryear. Located in an old church, the museum is akin to a giant curio cabinet of amazingness. Display cases are packed full of random collections of Egyptian art to a large stuffed fish.
I wasn’t kidding. There is seriously a stuffed fish on display.
long with a giant rooster from a carousel.
On a more serious note, the museum does contain the remnants of Seahenge, a wooden henge found on a Norfolk coast that was built in the 21st century BCE.
What Seahenge would have looked like in its heyday.
After that experience I decided on seeing something a bit more somber (Yes, it’s a church, what a surprise.) St. Margaret’s Church, or King’s Lynn Minster, was constructed in 1101. However, only the bottom portion of the southwest tower is original. The church was rebuilt in the 1300s and since then the church has been altered many times. During the Siege of King’s Lynn in 1643, a cannonball took out the main Western window.
St. Margaret’s Church.
A lovely English parish church.
I have no idea what is going on with this thingy. Talk about creepy. I assume that hand used to hold something. What, I don’t want to know.
Located across the street from the church is the awesome checkerboard looking Town Hall and Guildhall from the 15th century.
Next stop was the Old Gaol House, a museum dedicated to crime and punishment in King’s Lynn over the past three centuries. A former police station, the museum has cells from the 18th century and a recreated 1930s police station. At the end of the tour is the Regalia Room which houses the civic treasures of King’s Lynn.
That policeman is rocking his ‘stache.
It was raining when I left the Old Gaol House (not a surprise in England) and for some unexplainable reason I had a strange urge to go to the beach. I found one a little bit north of King’s Lynn and to my surprise (seriously, was not expecting this) it was sunny when I got there.
After exploring a cathedral, a castle and a town, my jam-packed day around Norfolk ended with a quiet stroll along a beach. Not bad, not bad at all.
Check out Day 6 of my Around Great Britain in 30 Days adventure, where I visit Lincolnshire.
or
Start at the beginning of my 30 days around Great Britain!
