Stately homes and Norwich

We have spent another two days looking around Norfolk. On Monday, we visited two stately homes. The first of these, Blickling Hall, was built in the seventeenth century on the site of a home owned by the Boleyn family. A lovely Jacobean house with some magnificent tapestries and paintings. The ceilings contain some great examples of Jacobean plasterwork, and there is a beautiful oak staircase in the entrance hall.

In the afternoon, we drove across to Holkham, the home of the Earl of Leicester, which is open to the public. In addition to Holkham Hall, there is an agricultural museum and collection of vintage vehicles. I've put a few images of old fire engines on Flickr for my CFA friends!
Holkham was also the site of filming for the movie "The Duchess".

Today began with what I consider heavy rain, although I'm told is was only "a bit damp". We drove to the nearest "Park and ride", which is a terrific system for public transport into large towns. You can leave your car at the Park and ride, and shuttle buses go in and out of the town. Fantastic system!
We spent the day in Norwich, beginning with the Cathedral which is over 900 years old and contains some magnificent medieval artwork. I purchased a photograph permit for the Cathedral, and a selection of the images are on the Flickr feed.
After the Cathedral, we walked across to The Forum, the very modern arts and information centre. This contains the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library - a large and busy library. Naturally, we had a look around! The library is on three levels, and is a very impressive place! The photos really don't do it justice.

Lunch at the former Assembly Rooms was followed by another walk - this time up to Norwich Castle, over 900 years old and one of the oldest remaining Normal Castles in England.

This is our last night in Norfolk, and we will be heading to Lincoln in the morning.