Paul Dickson with Tombland
A 2-hour guided walking tour celebrating CJ Sansom’s best-selling novel Tombland, featuring Tudor lawyer Matthew Shardlake’s visit to Norwich at the time of Kett’s Rebellion (1549).
The tour starts and finishes at the Maids Head Hotel and includes Tombland, the ancient Anglo-Scandinavian Market Place, Augustine Steward’s House, Norwich Cathedral Close, Bishopgate (Holme Street in the novel) and the Great Hospital, Bishop’s Bridge, the site of Bishop’s Gate and Lollards Pit, followed by a climb up to Kett’s Point, the remains of St Michael’s Chapel, with its fabulous view across the city.
The return journey follows the north side of the river with views of the medieval Cow Tower and surviving city walls, near the location of the Pockthorpe Gate, before crossing the river and passing the Adam and Eve pub, where Lord Sheffield was taken after he had been mortally wounded, and seeing the site of the Battle of Palace Plain.
The tour finishes by walking along the historic Quayside and visiting Elm Hill, home to St Simon and St Jude’s Church and returning to the Maids Head Hotel for coffee or tea and biscuits.
- Maximum size of group 20
- Cost £8.50 per person, includes coffee or tea and biscuits at the Maids Head Hotel
- Minimum charge £35
You can also book a special 3-hour Shardlake’s Norwich tour, which includes the possible site of the Battle of Dussindale, with a coffee/tea stop at Cafe Britannia on the way round. The tour costs £12.50 per person, with a minimum charge of £45.
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On Kett’s Heights
Shardlake’s Norwich Tours
Friday 24 May at 2pm, City of Ale Charity tour in aid of Norfolk SEN Network, ticket £10, includes complimentary numbered bottle of Kett’s Oak Barley Wine, brewed by Panther Brewery and Poppyland Brewery as the charity ale for Norwich City of Ale 2019. Tour starts at the Maids Head Hotel. SOLD OUT
Saturday 25 May at 2.30pm, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. SOLD OUT
Saturday 15 June at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 13 July at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Friday 9 August at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 24 August at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 28 September at 2pm, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 19 October at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 2 November at 10.30am, starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £8.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
“We had a brilliant Tombland/Shardlake Tour with Paul. He was engaging and very knowledgeable and brought the book to life. We learnt so much about Norwich and loved every minute of the 2 hours. We would definitely book another tour with Paul when we come back for another visit.” Jo, Janet & Annette Oxfordshire/ Berkshire
Thank you to everyone who came on the Shardlake’s Norwich tours on Saturday 30 March, and raised £147 for Break , the Maids Head Hotel’s charity for 2019 .