The Radical Women of Norwich Virtual Cache

Norwich is a city packed full of history, much of it with a radical or even rebellious edge.

But this cache is not about history. Instead, let's explore her story and the lives of some of the radical women who have made the Fine City. Hopefully you'll enjoy the walk and discover something you might not have known along the way.

PDF Guides:

There are two PDF files that you might want to download and print at least one of to help gather the information required. The links below should open in your web browser.

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• 3 page, detailed document
• single page, brief version

You don't have to use either of these, but they might be helpful.

Access:

The cache begins right outside Norwich railway station, so is accessible by public transport. There are many places to park a car in the city, but bear in mind that you'll almost certainly need at least 2 hours parking. From a city centre car park it might take 20-30 minutes to wander down to the starting point, and you'll be ending your walk in the city centre, so it'll take the same amount of time to get back to the station if you come by train.

My suggestion is to take your time. There are plenty of places to take a break along the way. Pick a nice day (or two) and enjoy the walk.

The cache is rated as wheelchair accessible, although there are some slopes and uneven surfaces, including cobbles, along parts of it. The route includes details of adaptations and suggestions for wheelchair users and stage 7 has a wheelchair accessible logging alternative. If for some reason you're unable to access any of the stages, please let me know via my profile and we'll come to some arrangement.

So, time to get started. Or, in the words of a woman associated with Norwich, let's be 'avin you...

Starting out

The published coordinates are for Waypoint 1. You need to be by the side of the river rather than on the roadway. It's easiest to head down the slope from Foundry Bridge, the road bridge across the Wensum outside the station (slope down, uneven in places).

Waypoint 1: Boudica (fl. 60)

N 52 37.626 E 001 18.317 (the published coordinates)

The original poster girl for radical Norfolk women, Norwich didn't exist when Boudica rebelled against the Romans in 60 or 61 AD, leading the Iceni to sack first Colchester and then London and St Albans. I can only assume Ipswich didn't exist at the time.

The Iceni lived in the area around Norwich - the Roman town at Venta Icenorum (modern day Caistor St Edmund) may have been their capital and is only a short distance south of the city. Boudica's Way is a 58 km (36 mile) walking trail running between Diss and Norwich, and you'll find a signpost marking it at the coordinates for WP 1.

Keep walking along the river and cross at the first bridge, named after Lady Julian. Once across, head away from the river, before turning left on to King Street and then up St Julians Alley. (Ramp on far side of bridge; some cobbles and slopes).

Waypoint 2: Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416)

N 52 37.500 E 001 18.031

An anchoress and mystic, Julian lived a solitary life in a cell attached to a church which stood here. Although we know little about her life, she wrote the first book by a woman in the English language, Revelations of Divine Love. Based on visions she received whilst ill, the book remains in print.

The church was totally rebuilt after being destroyed during the Norwich blitz of 1942. It's often open if churches are your thing.

You have options here. My favourite route is back down the alley and turn left before heading up through a churchyard, follow the sign to the Castle and Market Place (sections of cobbles - better on the righthand side - and very uneven in churchyard - stay on the street and turn left at the traffic lights to avoid this, but there are slopes and uneven pavements). Cross at the crossing and there's step free access to the castle using the path to the right of the doors to the shopping centre ahead of you (slopes, uneven in places).
A more direct route is up the hill and turn right on to Rouen Road (slope). You then need to find your way through to the castle (use the vehicle entrance on Farmers Avenue to avoid too many slopes).

Waypoint 3: Emma de Gauder (fl. 1096)

N 52 37.730 E 001 17.747

Norwich dates from the period after the Romans left Britain and by 900 was an important trading city. The Normans built Norwich Castle in 1067 and it was held by Ralph de Gael, the Earl of East Anglia. Ralph was refused permission to marry by William the Conqueror in 1075 but went ahead anyway and then plotted a rebellion - because, why not - but fled to Denmark when William's army came calling, leaving his new wife, Emma de Gauder, to defend the castle.

We don't know much about Emma (there's a theme here) - she married in 1075 and was probably born about 1059 in Normandy, making her just 16 at the time of the siege. We do know that she successfully defended the castle for three months and negotiated the safe passage of the garrison when she surrendered it to William, allowing her to leave for Brittany where Ralph eventually joined her. She died at some point after 1096 after embarking on the first crusade.

NOTE: you need to access the castle mound (no charge to access). It is open between 10am and 4:30pm (1pm to 4:30pm on Sundays) and is likely to be closed 24-26 December and 1 January (you can check online).
The castle is currently being rebuilt - work that will continue until at leats the end of 2024. To access the waypoint here you'll need to head around the top of the castle mound to the right (anti-clockwise). Go past the museum entrance and keep going until you get to the coordinates. If work has been extended to block the co-ords, the same notice is on most of the other doors, so just take the best photo you can manage.
The route to the castle is steep and surfaces are uneven. There's usually a lift in operation from a lower level, but the top of the mound may cause some issues. If it isn't accessible let me know and we'll come to an arrangement.

Head back out of the castle and down on to the street below, Castle Meadow (don't take the direct route!). Work your way around the bottom of the castle mound clockwise, cross the street and you'll get to the top of Opie Street (steps or slopes - the route on to Farmers Avenue is the least steep option).

Waypoint 4: Amelia Opie (1769–1853)

N 52 37.764 E 001 17.797

Author, poet and playwright, but also a philosopher and leading voice in the movement to abolish slavery, Amelia Opie was born in the Colegate area of Norwich - you'll visit there later in the walk - into a non-conformist family. Her 1804 book Adeline Mowbray explores slavery, women's education and marriage and is based on the life of her friend Mary Wollstonecraft.

Opie and Anna Gurney set up Norwich's Anti-Slavery Society, and she represented the city at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention. She was active in political causes in the city, but the plaque you'll see to her near her home at the top of what is now called Opie Street only mentions her literary work (although it does call her a "brilliant conversationalist" which is probably a compliment).

Go down Opie Street (slope down), past the interesting plaque and statue which form part of CaptSlogg's Look Up virtual cache, and turn right on to London Street - the first shopping street in the UK to be pedestrianised. Cross the road at the top on to Queen Street (watch the drainage gutters).

Waypoint 5: Harriet Martineau (1802–1876)

N 52 37.825 E 001 17.904

The Martineau family came to Norwich as Huguenot refugees from Bergerac in France and the name crops up all over the city. Harriet was born in the same courtyard on Magdalen Street as Elizabeth Fry, a house associated with the Gurney family, and received an education equal to that of her brothers.

Considered an important sociologist - although the first articles she wrote had to be published using a male name - Martineau argued for women's education and rights, advocated for the ability to divorce and, like Amelia Opie, was a leading abolitionist. She was one of the first women journalists and published a wide range of works, including novels. In 1866 she was one of the first to sign the petition calling for women to have the right to vote.

Go into the Cathedral close area - either use the gate ahead of you as you exit Queen Street (serious cobbles) or head left down Tombland and enter using the other gate (some cobbled areas but much easier). You need to head around the south side of the Cathedral - follow signs to Edith Cavell's grave.

Waypoint 6: Edith Cavell (1865–1915)

N 52 37.917 E 001 18.119

Born at Swardeston south-west of Norwich, Cavell was educated at Norwich High School for Girls and worked as a governess (including to the Gurney children) before becoming a nurse. She established a school for nurses in Brussels and was working in Belgium as a nurse at the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

Famously Edith was executed by the German military authorities in Belgium, having admitted to helping over 200 British, French and Belgium soldiers escape occupied Brussels and return to Britain. Her body was returned to Norwich in 1919 and buried here - her words the evening before her death provide the quote on the grave: "I realise that patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone".

There's a second memorial from another war just around the corner from Edith's grave that you may also be interested in.

It's easiest to walk back around the cathedral and exit by the northern gate (the one with fewer cobbles) - look up at the main entrance to the church as you walk past to see a statue honouring Julian. Out the gate (a further memorial to Cavell is on your left) and turn right, heading down Wensum Street to the left of the hotel and towards the river (towards the bridge this is easiest on the left side of the road which has fewer cobbles and is wider).

Waypoint 7: Mary Oliver (d. 1659) and others

N 52 37.978 E 001 17.829

Fye Bridge crosses the Wensum. A plaque on the wall heading down to Quay Side recognises this as the site of a ducking stool, one of a number of punishments usually carried out by men on women for supposed crimes. Those punishments included burning and hanging for witchcraft, a "crime" often linked to being simply outspoken, awkward or different.

The lives of most of these women, and there were thousands of them, are lost to history. We do know that a woman named Mary Oliver was "burnt for witchcraft and her goods confiscated for the use of the city" in 1659, quite possibly the Mary Oliver who was born Mary Leman and married in Norwich in 1626 before being described as "outspoken" during her time in Salem, Massachusetts - the site of the witch trials later in the 17th century - and forced to return to England. Her husband, Thomas, later returned to Salem and married Bridget Bishop, the first woman killed as a result of the witch trials.

At this point, you might want to take a diversion to the yard where Harriet Martineau and Elizabeth Fry were born on Magdalen Street. It's on the east side of the street at N 52 38.075 E 001 17.800 and can be seen through a metal grill (narrow pavements, busy road, tricky access).

Head north and then turn left on to Colegate. Walk past the alley on the right leading to the Old Meeting House - well worth a look - and then pass the Octagon Chapel where the Hugenot Martineau family worshipped - there are plenty of signs of their activity around here (some cobbles and uneven pavements).

Waypoint 8: Sarah Glover (1786–1867)

N 52 37.986 E 001 17.677

One of the few women commemorated on plaques in Norwich - a 2019 survey found that of Norwich's over 300 plaques, only 25 commemorated non-mythical women - Sarah Glover developed a method for reading music and established a school for "gentlewomen" - actually for poor girls - in this area of Norwich with her sisters.

The system Glover invented? It was called the sol-fa method and formed the basis of the way of teaching music notes that you'll know if you've watched The Sound of Music.

A diversion along Colegate to N 52 37.985 E 001 17.639 will bring you to a plaque marking the birthplace of Amelia Opie. It's near a school named after a woman with no association whatsoever with Norwich. Maybe they thought they didn't have any options for Norwich writers?

Continue a few metres along Colegate, before turning left on to St Georges Street. The large building at this end was a shoe factory, one of many worked in by women throughout Norwich, an industry which has more or less died out. They were, of course, paid less than their male counterparts... Walk across the bridge and up to St Andrews Plain (uneven pavement in places; some slopes, particularly at the end).

Waypoint 9: Suffragettes (1909)

N 52 37.846 E 001 17.744

St Andrews Hall was the venue for a speech in 1909 by Winston Churchill - then the President of the Board of Trade and a Liberal Party MP. The plain outside was the site of a demonstration by suffragettes - campaigners for the right for women to vote in elections, a right not established for elections to Parliament until 1918.

Women's suffrage was a cause promoted by Amelia Opie, Harriet Martineau and others, and the organised suffrage movements of the later 19th and early 20th centuries gained supporters in the city - in 1912 the Women's Social and Political Union established an office at 52 London Street, close to the bottom of Opie Street, and now a sandwich chain, and the less militant National Union of Women's Suffrage had a shop on Brigg Street, near Rampant Horse Street in the centre of the city. The President of Norwich Women's Suffrage Society in 1909 was Laura Stuart, born Laura Colman of the famous mustard family. Her sisters Ethel and Helen were vice-presidents and her cousin, Edith Willis the secretary.

St Andrews Hall and Blackfriars Hall are undergoing structural renovation work as it was found to be unsafe. This is likely to continue into 2025. The clue is still available – it's not behind any of the hoardings.

The best walking route is to cross the road and head up the hill to Bedford Street, turning right and continuing as it becomes Lobster Lane and then Pottergate (but this has many cobbled and uneven areas, as well as slopes). A more accessible route is to cross the road and turn right, staying on the main road until you reach St Gregorys Alley (uneven pavements in places, one section of cobbles, steep slope at end) - you might even find St Gregorys Back Alley (steep slope).

Waypoint 10: Elizabeth Fry (1780–1845)

N 52 37.795 E 001 17.470

A famous prison reformer, if you held a five pound note between 2002 and 2016 you'll have seen a picture of Fry, only the second woman who wasn't a monarch to appear on a Bank of England note. Fry was born off of Magdalen Street and brought up a Quaker, worshipping at the Friends Meeting House at Gildencroft now on the inner ring road (destroyed by bombs in 1942) before the Society of Friends opened their new meeting house here in 1820.

Fry was born into the Gurney family - them again - and famously witnessed the horrific conditions in which prisoners were housed at Newgate Prison in London in 1813. She established an organisation to provide help for women prisoners and was an influential voice for prison reform and the abolition of slavery throughout her life.

Either head up Upper Goat Lane or, for a nicer route, go back down Pottergate and up Lower Goat Lane to reach the next waypoint at the top of the hill (uphill slopes).

Waypoint 11: Mabel Clarkson (1874–1950)

N 52 37.749 E 001 17.532

The centre of democracy in Norwich - albeit one that was largely denied to women until the end of the 19th century at best. The Guildhall dates from the early 15th century and was the city council's home until City Hall - the larger building opposite - was opened in 1938.

Mabel Clarkson was the first woman elected to the City Council in 1912, initially as a Liberal, although she later joined the Labour party. She campaigned for better employment, housing, health and education for the city's poor and was a campaigner for women's suffrage. She served in the council chamber until 1948, serving in both buildings, was the first female Sherriff of Norwich in 1928 and the second female Lord Mayor in 1930 (Ethel Colman who had been vice-president of the Norwich Women's Suffrage Society, was the first in 1923 - the first female Lord Mayor in England). Despite this, there's no plaque commemorating Mabel in the city.

Walk past City Hall and across the new plain outside the Forum and up to Theatre Street. Cross the street and the last waypoint is just to the right (slight slopes, but you can avoid the steps).

Waypoint 12: Dorothy Jewson (1884–1964)

N 52 37.637 E 001 17.452

The Assembly House has a long history, but from 1876 to 1939 was the site of what became Norwich High School for Girls. Edith Cavell came here, as did Dorothy Jewson.

Jewson was another who campaigned for women's suffrage before becoming, in 1923, one of the first three women to be elected to parliament as a member of the Labour Party - five years before women had full equality with men at the ballot box. Havoc ensued as she was told off for the crime of not wearing a hat in Parliament.

The first female MP to be elected to a Norfolk constituency, Dorothy only served in parliament for a year (inevitably replaced by a man). Her first speech in Parliament advocated for the age of women's suffrage to be reduced to 21, equal to men (not achieved until 1928). She was a member of the City Council between 1929 and 1936, serving alongside Mabel Clarkson. There's no plaque to Jewson in Norwich.

Final Location

You should have 12 clues - 6 numbers and 6 letters. This forms the code: ABCDEFGHJKLM which should go number-letter-number-letter etc...

Using the Certitude Checker, enter the code. This will reveal the final location that you need to walk to and a task for you to complete.

The details from this task need to be e-mailed or sent to me via the message centre. You can do this by clicking my username at the top of this page.

You should be able to find some sort of wi-fi signal somewhere in the city centre to make this easier, or you can wait and do it at home.

Logging the cache:

You're free to log the cache as soon as it's completed.

Please make sure that within 7 days of logging the cache that you have:

1. sent me the information required after visiting the final location;
2. uploaded the 12 images required or made them available in some other way (see below).

This keeps it fair for everyone. If you think you'll struggle to post photos or send information within 7 days you can always post a note and change it to a found it log once the photos are uploaded.

Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between 1 March 2022 and 1 March 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.