It’s a long way from the West to Norfolk but it passed in a flash. The trees were still pretty although the leaves are fast disappearing now. I was delighted with the changing architecture and love all the wonderful flint buildings.

Our first port of call, Burnham Market, is such a pretty town. The Boss (that’s Helen Bowden of Orphans Publishing) and I explored, and after a bowl of soup in Tillys, enjoyed the beautiful Christmas window displays of Whitehouse books on the main street. Inside we were made so welcome and shown some fascinating books on the area including a lovely book about hares which of course thrive in the wide open spaces of Norfolk.

Next we visited Holt, near Cromer, with its exciting shopping precincts where we found The Holt Bookshop. Finally we headed into Norwich in search of our hotel and discovered that we had our work cut out to navigate the one-way systems. It was a challenge we never really mastered!

Our first evening was spent at Norwich’s impressive department store, Jarrolds which was hosting its Christmas party for customers. The occasion was made all the more poignant for me because the shop was around in Elizabeth Fry’s day so there is a chance that she, or at least members of her family, might have shopped there. There was no sign of austerity at the party – the place was packed, particularly the book department in the basement. We were delighted to learn that While it is yet Day was often included in the heavily laden shopping baskets as people queued at the tills.

Tagged with: Book Tour • Elizabeth Fry • Norfolk • Norwich • Quaker