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 at the Maids Head Hotel with coffee or tea and biscuits.
- Maximum size of group 12 (social distancing)
- Cost £9.50 per person, includes coffee or tea and biscuits at the Maids Head Hotel
- Minimum charge £45
You can also book a special 3-hour Shardlake’s Norwich tour, which includes the possible site of the Battle of Dussindale, The tour costs £13 per person, with a minimum charge of £60 and includes tea/coffee and a biscuit at the end of the tour.
The Friends of Kett’s Heights is a voluntary group set up in 2015 to care for the site of Robert Kett’s headquarters. Find out about their work here www.kettsheights.co.uk
Scroll down for public bookable tours
On Kett’s Heights
Shardlake’s Norwich Tours
Saturday 26 September at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £9.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. FULLY BOOKED
Friday 9 October at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £9.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. FULLY BOOKED
Friday 23 October at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £9.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 14 November at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £9.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. FULLY BOOKED
Friday 27 November at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £9.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Saturday 19 December at 10.30am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £9.50, including tea or coffee at the Maids Head. Book here
Friday 1 January 2021 at 11am starting from the Maids Head Hotel, ticket £9.50, 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
“Your knowledge has helped me appreciate much better the circumstances of Kett’s rebellion, brought ‘Tombland’ more vividly to life and added much to my appreciation of Norwich history. Judging by the comments of others in the group I am sure that this view was shared.” Penny, Norfolk
“Thank you for venturing out and giving us an excellent, informative and entertaining tour yesterday. We had a great visit and returned safely to Cambridge, our eyes wide at all the different sights and images we had seen after so long remaining within the Cambridge City boundaries.” Riki and Jim, Cambridge