OUTINGS

FUTURE VISITS

Trips are being considered visiting the Industrial Steam Museum at Forncett St Mary to the south of Norwich.
WATCH THIS SPACE!!!


PREVIOUS VISITS

NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY - Poppy Line trip
19th June 2022

We welcomed new members Jackie and Bill Cunliffe for this trip on their first outing with the Society.
This took about 15 members and friends onto the North Norfolk line from Sherringham to Holt and back along with a cream tea.

TRIP TO BLICKLING HALL, WEDNESDAY, 15th DECEMBER 2021


A Christmas Morning at Blickling (running from 10am until 2pm).
We enjoyed a Christmas morning there - well worth the visit.
and some stayed to experience the Christmas Garden of Lights

RAF BIRCHAM NEWTON took place on Sunday 31st October 2021

The Heritage Centre at Bircham has a unique collection of memorabilia from the former RAF station’s past. On display are photographs and personal memories of servicemen who have served there, and related items from its fascinating history.

OXBURGH HALL - 24th September 2020

A final visit for this year was arranged for Oxburgh Hall on Tuesday, 24th September.
Here are some of us having just enjoyed the tour round.


BATTLE OF BRITAIN MEMORIAL FLIGHT - RAF Coningsby - 4th July 2019
We visited the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
A very knowledgeable guide welcomed 12 of us and gave us a brief history of the BBMF before commencing a tour of the hanger. Once inside, we were given detailed histories of the Spitfires, Hurricanes and the Dakota - and stories of those who flew them. We then moved outside the hanger to view their most famous aircraft - the Lancaster. The mission of the RAF BBMF is to maintain the priceless artefacts of our national heritage in airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of this country, to promote the modern day Air Force and to inspire future generations.


VISIT TO LANGHAM DOME AND WELLS MALTINGS - 16th May 2019

Our trip to Langham Dome near Sculthorpe and Wells Maltings took place on 16th May 2019.
Langham Dome
North Norfolk Historic Buildings Trust, owners of Langham Dome, had created a Visitor Centre inside this intriguing building, telling the amazing story of the Dome and RAF Langham.
We had a half hour talk by a member of the Friends of Langham Dome on the genesis and history of the Dome and RAF Langham, with its interactive training guns, puzzles and atmospheric lighting followed by three 10 minute films, narrated by Stephen Fry, which told the story of the invention of the “Dome Trainer”, how it worked, interviews of personnel who actually trained and operated the Dome; and also about the squadrons which were stationed at Langham, as well as personal stories from some of those servicemen and women who served here, and the sort of operations which they undertook.
This was followed with time to look around the Dome and the facilities.
After coffe at the Langham Blue Bell in the village, we transfered to Wells Harbour.
Wells Maltings Trust
Wells Maltings Trust is an integrated and sustainable heritage, arts and community facility. It has moved from a traditional museum layout in favour of a creative, engaging community hub with a Heritage & Learning Centre alongside a café, shop and theatre.
Following our arrival at the Wells Maltings Trust and a bite to eat in the Maltings café, we enjoyed a talk by Simon Daykin, the Managing Director, in the Maltings Auditorium followed bya guided tour of the Maltings.
This ended a wonderful enjoying just some of the amazing attractions we have almost on our doorstep.

VISIT TO ELY CATHEDRAL - 27th March 2019

Our visit to Ely Cathedral took place on Wednesday, 27th March. It proved to be a great success and judging by the favourable comments that were received after our return, everyone seemed to agree that it was very enjoyable and we all learned a lot from it. The Archivist at the Cathedral, Elizabeth Stazicker, made the arrangements and a number of Cathedral staff showed us around the various parts of the Cathedral including the main body of the Cathedral, the Octagon (the wooden tower suspended above the central part of the building, the Stained Glass Museum (we learnt that most stained glass is not actually stained but painted!), the Archives Room, some records relating directly to Henry Le Strange and the painted ceiling of the Nave and one fit lady actually tackled the 288 steps up the West Tower which she described as being simply awe inspiring!
Here is a photo of many who made the journey:

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VISIT TO OUR NEW TWIN - MILDENHALL - 15th July 2016

A report is included on the 'Twinning' page above (under 'Events and Activities') but here are another couple of photos of our day at R.A.F. Mildenhall.

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COACH TRIP TO WISBECH 11 MAY 2016


We had a wonderful outing to Wisbech organised by Margi Blunden which offerred much in the way of history, fascinating people who have lived there and literary associations.

We visited the Wisbech Museum and had a very interesting guided tour.
Lunch was at the Rose and Crown Hotel.
The afternoon we visited the Octavia Hill Birthplace House and including a tour and tea.
We also took in the Thomas Clarkson Memorial.

Here are a few photos taken during the day:
The first was beside the Clarkson Memorial, the second having our lunch and the third was of a plaque we found in the garden of Octavia Hill House. The final one was in the Wisbech Museum.

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PREVIOUS OUTINGS

A trip took place by the Civic Society on 15 July 2015.
This was designed around William Butterfield who was a friend of Henry Le Strange. Together they planned the layout of Hunstanton with its several greens. It is probable that Butterfield designed The Golden Lion Hotel. He then went on to design the row of houses in St Edmunds Terrace.
This renowned Victorian architect was responsible for many buildings but church architecture was his forte. We went to see St Alban the Martyr, Holborn and All Saints, Margaret Street London.

All Saints, Margaret Street (below)

St Albyn the Martyr, Holborn (above)