Urban Fantasist
Menu
Picture
Follow @urbanfantasist
We're living in dangerously weird times... smart people just shrug and admit they're dazed and confused

Things to do in Norwich on a wet afternoon - go down into the bowels of history

31/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Team Christian (myself and Janie) recently went on a "Hidden History of Norwich" (UK) tour at the KindaKafe on Castle Meadow. (Note the "castle" bit, we'll come back to that.) The story starts with the Missing Kind charity taking over the old Ponds shoe-fitters shop (Ponds had been there since the 19th century – Norwich ised to have a major shoe manufacturing industry) and while clearing out decades of junk from an old storeroom, they discovered a doorway leading downstairs to another old storeroom filled with junk.

Guess what, when that was cleared away, they found another doorway leading even further down into the ground to another old storeroom and what appeared to be a row of old shops and an undercroft. Historians and archaeologists were called in and they dated the timbers of a building at the lower level to circa 1600.

What had happened? Basically early Norwich was a walled city and as the population grew, the only option was to build up and over existing properties. In addition, when the medieval castle, built on a mound and surrounded by a deep ditch and meadows, ceased to have any military significance, the local residents started encroaching on that as well – and so the property line started to extend in front of earlier properties and the street level also increased as the ditch filled. Which explains why the Ponds site appears to contain abandoned buildings that are now about 20 feet below the modern street level.

Anyway, if you are ever in Norwich, do take one of these tours. Totally fascinating and the guide is an excellent (and professional) storyteller who knows how to tell a good tale without being corny. The tour (lasts about an hour – no wheelchair access, wear sensible shoes as you'll be climbing down tight wooden staircases) helps support a charity and you get a free hot drink in the cafe – which also does a nice line in cakes and light meals. (Mmm... cake.) HOWEVER you do need to book in advance – and wrap up well, it was surprisingly cold down there.

One a more gruesome note, the city used to execute its criminals in the castle ditch while the county, which took over the castle keep as a prison, used to execute its criminals on the top of the castle hill. As our guide said, if you'd lived in these old properties "you'd have a great few of the gibbets". For tour times and tickets call 01603 850309 or visit https://www.missingkind.org
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Weird Tales in Weird Times:
    powered by green tea & pink wine

    Here to inform and entertain you with tales of geek, folklore and the weird. "Fun and high strangeness" is how one reader described it. Prone to sarcasm.

    Curated by Reuters correspondent and barrister turned writer, podcaster, editor, award-winning tech journalist and sometime werewolf hunter Charles Christian. The site also has links to Charles Christian's books and latest reviews plus his Weird Tales Radio Show.

    Charles was born a 'Chime Child' with a caul – according to folklore, being a caul-shrouded chime-child means he can't drown at sea but he can see and talk to ghosts and the Fae (faerie folk) without fear of coming to harm. Superpowers he's so far never needed to use.

    Vital Statistics

    Weird Tales Radio Show now goes out on syndication across 36 FM & internet radio stations, as well as all major podcast platforms plus Spotify, Mixcloud, SoundCloud, TuneIn Radio, YouTube, RSS & Amazon Music.
    Picture
    Click the <Play> button below to hear the latest show. Follow this link Weird Tales Radio Show to access archive.
    Picture
    Tweets by urbanfantasist

    Contact Details

    Email: urbanfantasist@icloud.com
    ​Tel: +44(0)1986 788666
    Tel/Txt: +44(0)7786 738172

    ​Skype: ChristianUncut
    Twitter: @urbanfantasist

    Quote, Unquote

    "Charles Christian... a man of paranormality" ...Howard Hughes, Talk Radio UK

    "A great witty intelligence in the world. We need more CC and less monkey-brained politicians" ...Julia Bohanna

    "Just found the show, absolutely love it. Will be tuning in regularly and catching up."

    "I host a daily morning show in Las Vegas and I like your shows very much. I love the way you pace your voice and thoughts is fantastic and you have a way of making your guest interviews sound more like conversations. Just wanted to let you know" ...Clay Baker

    ​"The ever wonderful Charles Christian and his Weird Tales Radio Show"...Into The Portal Podcast 

    ​"The Master of Mysteries & Folklore" ...Fantasy Radio UK

    "The witty and knowledgeable Charles Christian." 

    ​"We poled our fans on their favorite podcasts and that's how I heard of Weird Tales Radio. You are well loved by the geekiverse, and fans of folklore history and monsters!"

    "Charles Christian is really out there cool."
    ​
    ​"Check out Urban Fantasist for more fun and strangeness."

    ​"Charles Christian defiantly makes my world a brighter, funnier place."

    "
    Wonderful show tonight full of all the usual delights we've come to expect."
    ​
    "The legendary Charles Christian at his eclectic best... his insight and humour alone make this a must-read blog."

    "Charles Christian is my inner spirit animal, thank you for making me laugh."

    ​"You always make me laugh! Thank you for brightening my day with your dark humour."

    ​"the funny, wonderful and slightly cantankerous Charles Christian"

    "Carlsberg don't make clients, but if they did... they'd be Charles Christian"

    "His tech journalism is always witty. He has a talent for pricking the overblown claims of suppliers."

    "Charles Christian does awesome!"
    Picture

    Charles Christian's Books

    Picture
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087N3NB7M
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B087N3NB7M
    Picture
    ​https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MELTC84
    Picture
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07DKCKPT

    RSS Feed


    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Picture
Copyright © Charles Christian 
& WordsandVision Limited 2021
​Powered by green tea and pink wine
Tel: +44 (0)1986 788666
Tel/Txt: +44 (0)7786 738172
urbanfantasist@icloud.com
Contact Address: Oak Lodge, Darrow Green Road, Denton, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 0AY, United Kingdom

Weird Tales in Weird Times

  • Home
  • Weird Tales Shows
  • Charles Christian Bio
  • Interviews & Speaking
  • Charles Christian Books & Reviews
  • * Fiction
  • * Non Fiction
  • * Poetry
  • All My Links
  • Americana Shows
  • Old Grievous Angel
  • Home
  • Weird Tales Shows
  • Charles Christian Bio
  • Interviews & Speaking
  • Charles Christian Books & Reviews
  • * Fiction
  • * Non Fiction
  • * Poetry
  • All My Links
  • Americana Shows
  • Old Grievous Angel