Excursions and tours
The Society organises a number of Summer Excursions to sites of interest within the region. Details of forthcoming excursions and tours are listed below. A four-day visit to Chester will take place in the autumn.
Heritage Open Days, 9 September
Guided tours for the public will take place at two unique historical sites.
- In the morning at St Benet's Abbey (11am start: contact Anne Mason for details, 01760 755685)
- In the afternoon at Burgh Castle (2pm start: contact Hazel Leese, 01493 781781).
Tours of Caistor Roman Town
For the second year running, the Society will be offering guided tours of the Roman town at Caistor St Edmund, Venta Icenorum. They are free to all members of the public. They will take place on May 9, June 13, July 18, July 21, July 25, July 28, Aug 8 and Sept 12.
Starting at 11 am, the tours will last about an hour. Participants should meet in the car park at the site and wear suitable outdoor footwear.
Excursions 2010
Excursions during the Spring and Summer of 2010 took Society members to many destinations, including Ely, Spalding, Thetford and Elveden and Leiston and Dunwich. During August a walking tour explored part of the Norwich city wall. The 2011 summer programme is currently being planned, with excursions to Peterborough and Bury St Edmunds under consideration as well as a visit to Stiffkey and Wells.
Four-day visit to Chester, September 2010
This year's coach excursion will be based in Chester, staying in en-suite rooms for three nights at the 3-star Mill Hotel, and will be led by Brian Ayers. The coach will leave Norwich at 8.00 am on Friday 17th September and is expected to return to Norwich by 7.00 pm on Monday 20th.
The programme is likely to include some of the following: a walking tour of Chester, including the celebrated Rows and the recently-excavated Roman amphitheatre; rural Cheshire and north-east Wales. Possible destinations include Moel y Gaer Iron Age hillfort (if easily accessible); Bersham Ironworks; the Wilmslow Cheshire Cheese mines; the Pontcysyllte aqueduct; Rhuddlan Castle; Norton Priory. The journeys to and from Chester will be broken by stops in Repton village, which claims to be 'the historic capital of Mercia', and in Lichfield.
The cost will be roughly £300 per person (with a single supplement of £20 per night). The final cost will be known when we know how many people are coming. The cost includes bed and breakfast for all three nights, evening meal on the Sunday (on a canal boat trip), coach transport and all entry fees and gratuities. Lunches and evening meals (except for the Sunday evening) are not included. We will be staying five minutes walk from central Chester but we are happy to book evening meals at the hotel on the Friday and/or Saturday for those that wish it - please ask on the booking form.
Please send a deposit of £50 per person (cheque payable to Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society) with your booking form. The balance will be due by 31 July 2010 (we will let you know how much in due course). Please address any queries to Tony Bradstreet, tel. 01953 453915 (evenings after 7 pm or weekends) or e-mail tony (dot) bradstreet1 (at) btinternet (dot) com.
The Society is not arranging any group travel insurance so you should consider taking out individual cover in case you have to cancel. We regret that we cannot guarantee refunds, especially for late cancellations.