Events
Our programme for 2024-2025
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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Our programme for 2024-2025
All events held at Brundall Memorial Hall, Links Avenue, Brundall. Members free, visitors £3
Saturday 4th January 2025 at 2.30pm
THE PASTONS AND THE HUNDRED OF BLOFIELD: RECENT RESEARCH FROM THE PASTON FOOTPRINTS PROJECT
An illustrated talk by Rob Knee
The award-winning Paston Footprints Project, a major Lottery Funded heritage initiative. looked to highlight the contribution and significance of Norfolk's Paston family.
The area of Blofield played a key role in the rise of the Pastons, beginning with the family’s struggles in the lawless and violent years of the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the Blofield estate was given by Henry VIII to the courtier Sir Thomas Paston. This was to be followed in the 17th century and beyond by the remarkable legacy of Thomas’s son Edward Paston.
Paston Footprints is now focussed on exploring and developing accessible opportunities for linking the Paston legacy to health and well-being.
Saturday 1st February 2025 at 2.30pm
READING AND ANALYSING THE HISTORIC LANDSCAPE OF YOUR AREA
An illustrated talk by Adrian O’dell
Some believe that Norfolk has forever been an untouched backwater, but this was the most populated and prosperous part of the country from the 11th century until the 1750s. By using OS and Tithe Survey maps, combined with research at the Norfolk Record Office and other sources, amateur historians can interpret land usage and factors affecting settlement to reveal a district's now-hidden past.
Saturday 1st March 2025 at 2.30pm
NORWICH IN THE 1950s AND 60s
An illustrated talk by Pete Goodrum
Norwich-based author Pete Goodrum talks about Norwich in the two decades which saw the city emerge from war damage and move towards the rebuilding of the 1950s and the affluence and social change that defined the 1960s. It’s a sometimes serious and sometimes humorous look at how we lived and worked across twenty crucial years of post war history. Based on two of his best-selling books, the talk is a glimpse into many aspects of life in the city
Saturday 5th April 2025 at 2.30pm
THE A TO Z OF CURIOUS NORFOLK: STRANGE STORIES OF MYSTERIES, CRIMES AND ECCENTRICS
An illustrated talk by Sarah Doig
Norfolk’s spectacular coastline, quaint villages, historic houses, bustling market towns and meandering rivers all provide the perfect backdrop for some of the most curious tales from across the centuries. Which eccentric cleric’s final words were ‘Did I make the front page?’ Which annual race’s participants only eat lettuce? Who sold his soul to the devil? Where can you see an alarming life-size effigy in wax, one of only a handful in the country? These and other stories will be told by Sarah Doig in her talk.
Saturday 3rd May 2025 at 2.30pm
THE HOTBLACK FAMILY OF NORWICH
An illustrated talk by Caroline Holland
Caroline is a direct descendent of John Hotblack, Mayor of Norwich 1884-85, boot and shoe manufacturer and Norfolk landowner. To link in with our Community Archive project, her presentation will tell us about the influential lives of some of the Mayor’s Victorian sons and daughters and their endeavours, not only in business and civic life in Norwich but also further afield, including Brundall. Caroline will celebrate the achievements of the Hotblacks and explore how such a large and prosperous family lost its land and status and what we can learn from their stories.
Saturday 7th June 2025 at a time to be arranged
RED CROSS WALK, YARMOUTH ROAD
Led by Dale Wiseman
The walk will locate two of the auxiliary hospitals and visit the cemetery extension where there are several stories connected to the Red Cross story.
Saturday 26th July 2025 at 2.30pm
NORWICH CASTLE: ROYAL PALACE REBORN – A STORY 900 YEARS IN THE MAKING
An illustrated talk by Hannah Jackson
Preceded by: BLHG AGM
The transformation of Norwich Castle’s iconic Norman Keep is one of the largest heritage projects currently under way in the UK, generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It will see the rebuilding of the medieval floors and rooms so that visitors will be able to experience a Norman royal palace and its stories. The British Museum’s first medieval gallery outside of London will bring treasures of international importance to Norwich and for the first time everyone will be able to explore all five levels of the Keep – from basement to battlements. Join Project Manager, Hannah Jackson, to explore the fascinating history of Norwich Castle and to find out more about how the team have approached this complex redevelopment in a building that has been permanently occupied for over 900 years.
PAST EVENTS
Saturday 5th October 2024
THE DAYS OF THE NORWICH TRAMS: TRANSFORMING STREETS, TRANSFORMING LIVES
An illustrated talk by Frances and Michael Holmes
In 1900 trams arrived on Norwich’s streets. They were greeted with awe as a technological wonder that not only revolutionised travel but also radically changed the City.
Saturday 2nd November 2024 at 2.30pm
SISTER MONICA AND HER TIME AT COONOOR ON YARMOUTH ROAD, THORPE 1914-1918
An illustrated talk by Dale Wiseman
This year will be the 110th since the outbreak of the Great War.
Sister Monica (Emma Butterworth) was in Thorpe for four years as a matron at one of our four Auxiliary hospitals on Yarmouth Road. We have a box file of her movement and events which happened during this period including 80 postcards, and a wonderful autograph book that belonged to Sister Monica. Dale will tell her story and some of the other events that happened including a wedding between a nurse and soldier at Thorpe Church.
THE PASTONS AND THE HUNDRED OF BLOFIELD: RECENT RESEARCH FROM THE PASTON FOOTPRINTS PROJECT
An illustrated talk by Rob Knee
The award-winning Paston Footprints Project, a major Lottery Funded heritage initiative. looked to highlight the contribution and significance of Norfolk's Paston family.
The area of Blofield played a key role in the rise of the Pastons, beginning with the family’s struggles in the lawless and violent years of the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the Blofield estate was given by Henry VIII to the courtier Sir Thomas Paston. This was to be followed in the 17th century and beyond by the remarkable legacy of Thomas’s son Edward Paston.
Paston Footprints is now focussed on exploring and developing accessible opportunities for linking the Paston legacy to health and well-being.
Saturday 1st February 2025 at 2.30pm
READING AND ANALYSING THE HISTORIC LANDSCAPE OF YOUR AREA
An illustrated talk by Adrian O’dell
Some believe that Norfolk has forever been an untouched backwater, but this was the most populated and prosperous part of the country from the 11th century until the 1750s. By using OS and Tithe Survey maps, combined with research at the Norfolk Record Office and other sources, amateur historians can interpret land usage and factors affecting settlement to reveal a district's now-hidden past.
Saturday 1st March 2025 at 2.30pm
NORWICH IN THE 1950s AND 60s
An illustrated talk by Pete Goodrum
Norwich-based author Pete Goodrum talks about Norwich in the two decades which saw the city emerge from war damage and move towards the rebuilding of the 1950s and the affluence and social change that defined the 1960s. It’s a sometimes serious and sometimes humorous look at how we lived and worked across twenty crucial years of post war history. Based on two of his best-selling books, the talk is a glimpse into many aspects of life in the city
Saturday 5th April 2025 at 2.30pm
THE A TO Z OF CURIOUS NORFOLK: STRANGE STORIES OF MYSTERIES, CRIMES AND ECCENTRICS
An illustrated talk by Sarah Doig
Norfolk’s spectacular coastline, quaint villages, historic houses, bustling market towns and meandering rivers all provide the perfect backdrop for some of the most curious tales from across the centuries. Which eccentric cleric’s final words were ‘Did I make the front page?’ Which annual race’s participants only eat lettuce? Who sold his soul to the devil? Where can you see an alarming life-size effigy in wax, one of only a handful in the country? These and other stories will be told by Sarah Doig in her talk.
Saturday 3rd May 2025 at 2.30pm
THE HOTBLACK FAMILY OF NORWICH
An illustrated talk by Caroline Holland
Caroline is a direct descendent of John Hotblack, Mayor of Norwich 1884-85, boot and shoe manufacturer and Norfolk landowner. To link in with our Community Archive project, her presentation will tell us about the influential lives of some of the Mayor’s Victorian sons and daughters and their endeavours, not only in business and civic life in Norwich but also further afield, including Brundall. Caroline will celebrate the achievements of the Hotblacks and explore how such a large and prosperous family lost its land and status and what we can learn from their stories.
Saturday 7th June 2025 at a time to be arranged
RED CROSS WALK, YARMOUTH ROAD
Led by Dale Wiseman
The walk will locate two of the auxiliary hospitals and visit the cemetery extension where there are several stories connected to the Red Cross story.
Saturday 26th July 2025 at 2.30pm
NORWICH CASTLE: ROYAL PALACE REBORN – A STORY 900 YEARS IN THE MAKING
An illustrated talk by Hannah Jackson
Preceded by: BLHG AGM
The transformation of Norwich Castle’s iconic Norman Keep is one of the largest heritage projects currently under way in the UK, generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It will see the rebuilding of the medieval floors and rooms so that visitors will be able to experience a Norman royal palace and its stories. The British Museum’s first medieval gallery outside of London will bring treasures of international importance to Norwich and for the first time everyone will be able to explore all five levels of the Keep – from basement to battlements. Join Project Manager, Hannah Jackson, to explore the fascinating history of Norwich Castle and to find out more about how the team have approached this complex redevelopment in a building that has been permanently occupied for over 900 years.
PAST EVENTS
Saturday 5th October 2024
THE DAYS OF THE NORWICH TRAMS: TRANSFORMING STREETS, TRANSFORMING LIVES
An illustrated talk by Frances and Michael Holmes
In 1900 trams arrived on Norwich’s streets. They were greeted with awe as a technological wonder that not only revolutionised travel but also radically changed the City.
Saturday 2nd November 2024 at 2.30pm
SISTER MONICA AND HER TIME AT COONOOR ON YARMOUTH ROAD, THORPE 1914-1918
An illustrated talk by Dale Wiseman
This year will be the 110th since the outbreak of the Great War.
Sister Monica (Emma Butterworth) was in Thorpe for four years as a matron at one of our four Auxiliary hospitals on Yarmouth Road. We have a box file of her movement and events which happened during this period including 80 postcards, and a wonderful autograph book that belonged to Sister Monica. Dale will tell her story and some of the other events that happened including a wedding between a nurse and soldier at Thorpe Church.
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.
