Treading the ancient streets of Norwich, it is easy to imagine the whispers of giants of the past brushing past, for so many celebrated household names, past and present, hail from Norwich.
From the most famous naval commander in British history to a man of outstanding bravery and an engineer, cook, comedian and sportsmen in-between, Norwich has everything to showcase and more, as reflected in its diverse culture and architecture.
Many more than the ten famous historical figures from Norwich this article mentions.
Let’s start with laughter
Stephen Fry, the nation’s favourite polymath, comedian, actor, writer and presenter was born in Norwich.
Fry is an avid Norwich City football fan and can often be seen milling around in the crowd at Carrow Road.
The next pair (but counted as one) brothers Tom and Ben Youngs, who play hooker and scrum half for Leicester, are proud of their Norwich association, as is their father who was also born in the town.
After all that focus on top sport, food is always popular.
For No. 3 on the list of 10 famous historical figures from Norwich, visit Delia’s Restaurant and Bar at Carrow Road, owned by the legendary Canaries supporter and TV chef, Delia Smith.
Experience the heady nostalgia of Britain’s naval might
Look into the only museum dedicated to England’s national hero, Admiral Horatio Nelson. Although born in Burnham Thorpe on the north coast, Nelson attended Norwich School, a selective, independent school in the close of Norwich cathedral.
Boudica, Queen of the Iceni people of ancient Britain and arch enemy of the occupying Romans was born at a settlement near the River Wensum, close to Norwich.
In the more recent past, another famous, yet humble soldier, Sydney James Day, was born in Norwich in 1891.
His bravery in the trenches in WWI led to him being awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
Whether you are a #Remainer or a #Brexiteer like James Dyson, there’s no doubting he has put Britain firmly on the manufacturing map and, indeed, retains a large and growing factory in Wiltshire.
From humble beginnings in Norwich, there is surely a place in the list of ten famous historical figures from Norwich.
Everybody loves a bit of “Strictly” on Saturday night TV and who doesn’t remember Ed Balls, ex Labour politician, who featured in Series 14? Born in Norwich, he has been taken firmly to the nation’s heart as a great entertainer.
Norwich boasts a Nobel Prize winner
Sir Paul Maxime Nurse, an English geneticist, was born in Norwich. He was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Leland Hartwell and Tim Hunt for their discoveries of protein.
Nicole Kidman turned baddie in the fantasy film “The Golden Compass”. Philip Pulman, the author of the trilogy of books turned into the film, was born in Norwich and loved her performance as the evil Mrs. Coulter.
With its phantasmagorical creatures and other-worldly figures, set in a world full of intrigue, it’s a fitting note on which to end this tour of ten famous historical figures of Norwich whose ghosts may still be walking the atmospheric and ghostly streets of Norwich.