GREAT HOSPITAL
- BISHOPGATE
NR1 4EL NORWICH, NORFOLK
Phone: 01603 622022
Fax: 01603 766093
E-mail: Send messagewww.greathospital.org.uk
Short profile:
The Great Hospital at Bishopgate, North East of the Cathedral, is an Almshouse founded in
1249 by Bishop Walter de Suffield that has cared for the citizens of Norwich for over 750 years.
The group of buildings includes a church, cloister, medieval refectory, and a Victorian hall.
It has been decided to open these to the people of Norwich and, in the process, raise
funds towards the upkeep of these magnificent buildings.
Detailed description:
THE BIRKBECK HALL, seating up to 120 people, has excellent acoustics making it a stunning venue for choral or acoustic instrumental concerts. Amplified music is not permitted as residents' accommodation is close by.
THE REFECTORY which has a minstrels gallery can also be used for smaller concerts or for interval refreshments.
ST HELEN'S CHURCH can also be used for concerts, including organ recitals. The church is fitted with a loop system
The Great Hospital has beautiful grounds with lawned areas, and a delightful cloister - suitable for pre-concert picnics or drinks during the summer months.
Both halls, the church and grounds, are wheel-chair accessible, but please note that there are two shallow steps into the cloister.
Car parking is not available on site but there is a large car park nearby. In the evenings and at weekends we are able to use the Norwich Lower School car park by kind permission of the Head Master.
The original beneficiaries of the new foundation in 1249 were aged priests, poor scholars, and sick and hungry paupers. Clerics remained unmarried in this period so had no family to support them in old age. The poor scholars, boys selected on merit from local song schools were to receive a daily meal during term times. This was to continue until the boy had achieved a good grasp of Latin. With this help bright but poor boys were given the chance to train as choristers or even to enter the priesthood.
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