please empty your brain below
The library still reminds me of the Look East titles.

Kirk | 22.10.13 - 7:32 a.m. | #

I wonder though if the newer buildings will manage to survive as long, "The Forum" seems less substantial than most on the list, and I can't see it getting to a couple of hundred years old, let alone 1000!

Then again, the timber framed Dragon Hall has lasted a good few huindred years without rotting away, so maybe there is hope for modern "cost efficient" designs.

Mark | 22.10.13 - 8:45 a.m. | #

Have you visited the Anglia TV knight?

Are there no noteworthy Tudor, Elizabethan, or Jacobean buildings? Nothing from the Restoration, or William & Mary, or Queen Anne?

The single small window above the entrance to the Assembly House is a little inelegant but not too surprising in a provincial building. Who was the architect?

Andrew | 22.10.13 - 8:47 a.m. | #

No doubt the Dragon Hall has been repaired and parts replaced many times since it was built, but I expect a fair amount of the original fabric remains (unlike the ancient spade with several new handles and blades). Oak is pretty durable.

Andrew | 22.10.13 - 8:51 a.m. | #

Kirk - the Forum probably features in Look East's titles because BBC Norfolk broadcast from there too.

martin | 22.10.13 - 8:54 a.m. | #

(Sorry, got it slightly wrong - their proper name is BBC East)

martin | 22.10.13 - 8:55 a.m. | #

It's one year ago this weekend I made a special birthday trip to Norwich so this post is a timely reminder of a fab weekend.
It's well worth making the effort to visit the Dragon Hall. Absolutely fascinating. That, and the Castle were the highlights for me.

CornishCockney | 22.10.13 - 10:24 a.m. | #

Great stuff DG. I'm planning a winter weekend visit to Naaaritch with my good lady and this post has given me lots of ideas. Thank you.

THC | 22.10.13 - 11:14 a.m. | #

I know very little about cathedral architecture and I'm sure Norwich is better than Ely in many ways. I've been to both cities and what I really liked about Ely was seeing the cathedral from the train when it was still a very long way away, because the landscape is so flat. Ely was a very pleasant place for a day out, small enough for me to feel I'd seen everything. but of course I didn't have dg's invaluable list when I went to Norwich, perhaps I'll have to go again and do it properly

amber | 22.10.13 - 1:23 p.m. | #

Yes, Norwich is well worth a visit

Mikey C | 22.10.13 - 8:38 p.m. | #

What a pleasure to have a post about 'my' city. I was talking to one of the volunteers at Norwich Cathedral a couple of weeks ago - she said they are told to emphasise that donations are voluntary. I'm sure you know that the Assembly House had a major fire as well as the old 60s library, so has been considerably restored.

Z | Homepage | 22.10.13 - 8:43 p.m. | #

Sorry to be miserable, but with the exception of the Forum, the Norwich 12 seems very brown. Like old castle, old house, old hospital, etc... whereas I'm more a fan of modern, glass and plastic. From my point of view, Norwich looks quite boring - I have no interest in 800 year old architecture.

Rotherhithe | 22.10.13 - 9:13 p.m. | #

I think I take roughly the opposite view to Rotherhithe (despite also living there). I like the forum, it's very good. Really nice. But stunning? No way. Where's all the detail you get on old buildings? Compare against the picture of Surrey House, for example. Even ignoring the statue in the foreground on the photo, there's so much to look at if you get close. The crest at the top centre, for example. You'd never get something like that on a modern building; if it's smaller than a giant pane of glass, it's too small to worry about.

Jim | 23.10.13 - 12:25 a.m. | #

"Norwich: A Fine City" - the epitome of East Anglian understatement!

Ian Brooker | 25.10.13 - 3:12 a.m. | #











TridentScan v2.10.0 | Privacy Policy