by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:16th August 2017
And no, one isn’t the ‘Norfolk Broads’
While planning our Norfolk road trip and during our visit, we found out some interesting facts & snippets of information about this East Anglian county.
Even though Norfolk isn’t a million miles away from where we live in the southeast of the UK, there are still things you are unaware of, or niggling bits of knowledge in your mind, that you think you know about a place but not too sure until you go digging a little further.
Some of you may already know this, but here is what we found out.
Even though Norfolk isn’t a million miles away from where we live in the southeast of the UK, there are still things you are unaware of. Niggling bits of knowledge in your mind, that you think you know about a place but not too sure until you go digging a little further.
Why not Pin it for later?
The Twelve
We'll be discovering the following;
- Norwich has two cathedrals
- Norfolk has over 90 miles of beautiful coastline
- Colman's English Mustard
- World War I Heroine
- Grab your bucket and spade
- Norfolk's famous architect son, George Skipper
- Norfolk's famous nautical son, Lord Nelson
- All Aboard the "Poppy Line"
- Discover the local Norfolk flint
- Captain George Vancouver, HMS Discovery
- Visit the Royal Retreat of Sandringham Estate
- Cromer's wandering Bagot goats
You can click on the link to jump to the section, and to return, just click on the title.
Not only can Norwich boast that it has a magnificent Church of England Norman Cathedral, that has stood for over 900 years, in 44 acres of a beautiful close.
Through Erpingham Gate to the Cathedral
But it also has a Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, just a short hop out of the city centre. This cathedral was built between 1884 & 1910 in the style of Victorian Gothic Revival.
St John the Baptist Cathedral
Also, what we noticed about Norwich was a large number of churches in the city. We’ve since found out that Norfolk (and it isn’t a huge county) has over 650 churches.
For more on our visit to Norwich check out our posts on the city - Norwich, A collection of images from this amazing City, The Norwich 12, Norfolk, England & The Heart of Norfolk: Norwich, England
Norfolk has a wonderful, unspoilt, coastline that sweeps around the north of the county from Great Yarmouth to beyond Hunstanton.
The shoreline at Hunstanton
Not just any old mustard, nope its Colman’s mustard, the one with the world-famous yellow packaging. This hot little number has been manufactured in Norwich since 1814, over 200 years ago. Sadly that's no longer the case, but when we reach for it , we'll think of Norwich.
Colman's Mustard of Norwich
Tourist Information
If you're tempted by the beautiful English county of Norfolk and its incredible far-reaching coastline take a look at the 'Visit Norfolk' official website.
Need a hotel
Have a peek at the latest offers from Booking.com, our preferred hotel booking website.
Booking.com
Edith Cavell was a nurse during the First World War, and she infamously sheltered Allied forces & helped over 200 escape, for this Edith was tried and executed behind enemy lines.
A state funeral was given to Edith Cavell at Westminster Abbey, and a fitting memorial is by Norwich Cathedral.
The memorial to Edith Cavell
The elegant Cromer Pier
Norfolk is also home to some great seaside resorts, Cromer ‘Gem of the Norfolk Coast’ with its traditional old school feel of promenading along the sea front and Great Yarmouth with its slapstick, candy floss and crazy golf.
The golden sands of Great Yarmouth
We've stopped by two very different resorts on the Norfolk Coast - Great Yarmouth & Cromer. You can check out Sandcastles & Slapstick, Great Yarmouth, England & ‘Gem of the Norfolk Coast’, Cromer, England
A Norfolk Road Trip
Discover more of the historic county of Norfolk from east to west, north to south. You can do it all on a road trip, Rental Cars searches multiple well-known car hire brands and discovers the deals that suit you the best.
George Skipper was very well known in Norfolk for his architectural designs.
Not only was he the mind behind the Art Nouveau Royal Arcade in Norwich, but he also designed the elegant Hotel de Paris, that sits on the cliff top at Cromer looking down over the pier.
Inside the Royal Arcade, Norwich
Hotel de Paris, Cromer
Escape for a few days
Are you searching for a tranquil hideaway to unwind in, while you explore the picturesque Norfolk landscape?
After a day visiting the golden beaches or touring the charming, quaint villages return to one of the handpicked properties and unique retreats at Holiday Cottages.
I never realised that Horatio Nelson was born in Norfolk and schooled in Norwich. His statue stands just by Norwich Cathedral opposite his old school.
A statue of Nelson, Norwich
For a bit of nostalgia jump aboard the Sheringham to Holt steam train and take a trip along the ‘Poppy Line’ through the Norfolk countryside.
A steam engine from the North Norfolk Railway Line
This is just one of the heritage lines that run through Norfolk.
If you're intrigued by Norfolk, a UK county with an interesting past, then why not check out "The Little Book of Norfolk". Full of facts and obscure information. It's a fun read on the region.
You can pick it up for your Kindle or in good old hardcover. (Depending on region)
Abbeyfield House - Norwich
Another surprise was the abundance of flint in Norfolk, it has been mined in this region since Pre-Roman times and is used throughout the county on historical buildings and modern-day homes.
Another Naval great to be born in Norfolk is George Vancouver, a statue of him can be found in his home town of King’s Lynn. Not that I’m giving the game away, but one of his famous expeditions was to Canada.
The statue to Captain George Vancouver, King's Lynn
Now, of course, I have heard of Sandringham House the elegant Royal retreat that Queen Elizabeth II and her family resides at during Christmas, but during the tour of the house you can find out snippets of the family’s history.
Sandringham House
We found out that in 1932 beyond a secret door a temporary radio studio was set up for King George V, to broadcast the first Royal Christmas Message….well I didn’t know that.
A little more of Norfolk
Our few days in Norfolk gave us some wonderful memories, Why not check out our posts on the places we visited with tips & inspiration to get the most out of your visit?
Now, I was certainly surprised to see these little fellas; I know that Cromer is famous for its crabs, but not goats!
The goats at Cromer
Who knew? Apparently, the herd of eight Bagot goats were brought in to nibble at undergrowth and keep the cliff top vegetation under control.
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