Events
Our programme for 2025-2026
Brundall Local History Group (BLHG) usually meets on a Saturday afternoon in The Memorial Hall, Links Aveue, Brundall, for a talk, with a varied programme of speakers.
We charge visitors £3 for the event which includes tea or coffee and a biscuit (although donations are welcome), or you can pay an annual subscription of £15 and become a member, attending our meetings at no charge. Both visitors and new members are always very welcome. We have a selection of books and leaflets on sale.
Members are admitted free to the talks and also receive a quarterly journal, the Chronicle, with research and stories.
Members are admitted free to the talks and also receive a quarterly journal, the Chronicle, with research and stories.
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Skating at Coldham Hall in January 1928
Celebrate Christmas Past with the BLHG!
SPECIAL EVENT: Celebrate Christmas Past with Brundall Local History Group and other local organisations at Brundall Memorial Hall on Sunday 30th November 2025, 11am – 3pm
You are invited to share your memories of favourite winters, seasonal festivities, events and traditions through your photographs, ephemera and stories, so they can be included in our special display of festive fun.
It could be a photo of yourself as a child, or your favourite Christmas present, a family dinner, or a snowy season... or maybe your grandchildren's visit to see Santa and his reindeer at Brundall Home Hardware!
The project is open to all – you don’t have to be a BLHG member to join in.
Your submissions will be shown alongside a selection of village stories and images from the Brundall Local History Group Archive.
Please bring your contributions along to our public events at the Hall on Saturday 4th October or Saturday 1st November or email them in digital format to Celia Sutton at [email protected] by Monday 17th November (closing date).
All physical photographs etc. should be submitted in an envelope marked with your name, address, email address and phone number so they can be safely returned to you after the show.
SPECIAL EVENT: Celebrate Christmas Past with Brundall Local History Group and other local organisations at Brundall Memorial Hall on Sunday 30th November 2025, 11am – 3pm
You are invited to share your memories of favourite winters, seasonal festivities, events and traditions through your photographs, ephemera and stories, so they can be included in our special display of festive fun.
It could be a photo of yourself as a child, or your favourite Christmas present, a family dinner, or a snowy season... or maybe your grandchildren's visit to see Santa and his reindeer at Brundall Home Hardware!
The project is open to all – you don’t have to be a BLHG member to join in.
Your submissions will be shown alongside a selection of village stories and images from the Brundall Local History Group Archive.
Please bring your contributions along to our public events at the Hall on Saturday 4th October or Saturday 1st November or email them in digital format to Celia Sutton at [email protected] by Monday 17th November (closing date).
All physical photographs etc. should be submitted in an envelope marked with your name, address, email address and phone number so they can be safely returned to you after the show.
BLHG programme, 2025-26
Saturday 1st November 2025 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
NORWICH IN THE 1970s
An illustrated talk by Pete Goodrum
Following his March 2025 talk on Norwich in the 1950s and 1960s Pete Goodrum returns with his sequel. NORWICH IN THE 1970s is based on his best-selling book. This will be a fascinating and funny look at a decade that saw changes in so many aspects of life. Prepare for some serious nostalgia…
Saturday 3rd January 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
NORWICH’S HIDDEN INDUSTRIAL PAST
An illustrated talk by Mary Fewster
Until the 1980s Norwich was officially classed as an industrial city. Its long history as a textile centre modified from the 18th century to include an increasing range of manufactures, from brewing to brushes, from shoes to iron-founding, and much more. This talk draws attention to the concentration of industrial premises in the city centre, the surviving buildings and the surprising details.
Saturday 7th February 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
JULIAN OF NORWICH AND MARGERY KEMPE
An illustrated talk by Georgette Vale
Georgette will play both roles of these two medieval mystics and their contrasting characters. Julian of Norwich – the first known authoress in the English language, and Margery Kempe – the first known autobiographer in English. Whilst Julian remained enclosed in a small cell Margery rampaged across Europe. We share their visions and take a journey through their books.
Saturday 7th March 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
THE HIDDEN LIVES OF WOMEN IN VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN BRUNDALL
An illustrated talk by Chloe Veale
Within the strict patriarchal society of this period, women’s everyday lives were subservient to the worldly achievements of their fathers, husbands and brothers. Research undertaken by BLHG Archive Group volunteers, from family records, house deeds and newspaper reports, has revealed the circumstances and remarkable accomplishments of several Brundall women, from different backgrounds and classes in society. Now at last some of their compelling stories can be heard.
Saturday May 2nd 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
FISHERMEN, BATHERS AND BEACH FOLK
An illustrated talk by Helen Murray
Fishermen, Bathers and Beach Folk explores the life of the young Quaker artist, Juliet Seebohm, and the lives of those she captured in her sketchbook of Cromer, 1883-1884. These included Cromer-born fishermen turned swimming tutors, the Mayes brothers, bathing machine operators Lucy Miller and her brother Gilbert ‘Leather’ Rook, Russian professor Sir Paul Vinogradoff, lively Mrs Locker, genial cricketer Sam Hoare and the eccentric clubfooted fisherman, ‘Old Billy.’
Saturday 6th June 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
WELCOME TO NORFOLK: A SHORT HISTORY OF INCOMERS
An illustrated talk by Juyna Lewis
Norfolk used to be joined to the Continent until the last Ice Age. During the past few millennia there has been constant human traffic: some have been invaders, pillagers, invitees or colonialists. The contact has been largely friendly, not least because of important trading links. The talk will include the personal experiences of the speaker’s own family making England their home.
Saturday 11th July 11 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
NORFOLK IN THE STAGECOACH AGE
An illustrated talk by Charles Lewis
(preceded by the AGM)
The early 19th century was the golden age of the stagecoach, often romanticized in Dickensian Christmas scenes. Whip-cracking drivers, blunderbuss-wielding guards and, of course, the gentleman highwayman, are all part of the accepted picture, but what was coach travel really like during this period? Charles will show how roads, vehicles and services developed until the country was served by a network comparable to that later provided by the railways. We shall see what it was like to travel by coach, the delights and dangers, and whether highwaymen were really part of the story.
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
NORWICH IN THE 1970s
An illustrated talk by Pete Goodrum
Following his March 2025 talk on Norwich in the 1950s and 1960s Pete Goodrum returns with his sequel. NORWICH IN THE 1970s is based on his best-selling book. This will be a fascinating and funny look at a decade that saw changes in so many aspects of life. Prepare for some serious nostalgia…
Saturday 3rd January 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
NORWICH’S HIDDEN INDUSTRIAL PAST
An illustrated talk by Mary Fewster
Until the 1980s Norwich was officially classed as an industrial city. Its long history as a textile centre modified from the 18th century to include an increasing range of manufactures, from brewing to brushes, from shoes to iron-founding, and much more. This talk draws attention to the concentration of industrial premises in the city centre, the surviving buildings and the surprising details.
Saturday 7th February 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
JULIAN OF NORWICH AND MARGERY KEMPE
An illustrated talk by Georgette Vale
Georgette will play both roles of these two medieval mystics and their contrasting characters. Julian of Norwich – the first known authoress in the English language, and Margery Kempe – the first known autobiographer in English. Whilst Julian remained enclosed in a small cell Margery rampaged across Europe. We share their visions and take a journey through their books.
Saturday 7th March 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
THE HIDDEN LIVES OF WOMEN IN VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN BRUNDALL
An illustrated talk by Chloe Veale
Within the strict patriarchal society of this period, women’s everyday lives were subservient to the worldly achievements of their fathers, husbands and brothers. Research undertaken by BLHG Archive Group volunteers, from family records, house deeds and newspaper reports, has revealed the circumstances and remarkable accomplishments of several Brundall women, from different backgrounds and classes in society. Now at last some of their compelling stories can be heard.
Saturday May 2nd 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
FISHERMEN, BATHERS AND BEACH FOLK
An illustrated talk by Helen Murray
Fishermen, Bathers and Beach Folk explores the life of the young Quaker artist, Juliet Seebohm, and the lives of those she captured in her sketchbook of Cromer, 1883-1884. These included Cromer-born fishermen turned swimming tutors, the Mayes brothers, bathing machine operators Lucy Miller and her brother Gilbert ‘Leather’ Rook, Russian professor Sir Paul Vinogradoff, lively Mrs Locker, genial cricketer Sam Hoare and the eccentric clubfooted fisherman, ‘Old Billy.’
Saturday 6th June 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
WELCOME TO NORFOLK: A SHORT HISTORY OF INCOMERS
An illustrated talk by Juyna Lewis
Norfolk used to be joined to the Continent until the last Ice Age. During the past few millennia there has been constant human traffic: some have been invaders, pillagers, invitees or colonialists. The contact has been largely friendly, not least because of important trading links. The talk will include the personal experiences of the speaker’s own family making England their home.
Saturday 11th July 11 2026 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
NORFOLK IN THE STAGECOACH AGE
An illustrated talk by Charles Lewis
(preceded by the AGM)
The early 19th century was the golden age of the stagecoach, often romanticized in Dickensian Christmas scenes. Whip-cracking drivers, blunderbuss-wielding guards and, of course, the gentleman highwayman, are all part of the accepted picture, but what was coach travel really like during this period? Charles will show how roads, vehicles and services developed until the country was served by a network comparable to that later provided by the railways. We shall see what it was like to travel by coach, the delights and dangers, and whether highwaymen were really part of the story.
Past events
Saturday 4th October 2025 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
BEATING THE BOUNDS IN GEORGIAN NORWICH
An illustrated talk by David A. Berwick
The practice of 'beating the bounds' was kept up through the 18th and 19th centuries in Norwich and the wider county. It featured regular, joyful and noisy processions around parish boundaries, often with food and drink thrown in. Boundary markers were put up on buildings at important locations during these festive jaunts and inter-parish rivalry was common. The presentation will chart the history of this very old custom and features some funny goings on…
Saturday 4th October 2025 at 2.30pm
In the Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall
BEATING THE BOUNDS IN GEORGIAN NORWICH
An illustrated talk by David A. Berwick
The practice of 'beating the bounds' was kept up through the 18th and 19th centuries in Norwich and the wider county. It featured regular, joyful and noisy processions around parish boundaries, often with food and drink thrown in. Boundary markers were put up on buildings at important locations during these festive jaunts and inter-parish rivalry was common. The presentation will chart the history of this very old custom and features some funny goings on…
Copyright: Nothing on this website may be copied or published without the permission of the Brundall Local History Group. This does not mean we will not give permission, but you do have to ask us. The archive material has come from many sources and there are many copyright holders.
