Norwich Cathedral: where the monks worked, read, prayed and played

Norwich Cathedral’s magnificent two-storey cloister was never merely a convenient walkway for monks to pass between the church and the other buildings of the monastic cathedral. As a processional route it formed an important part of the liturgical worship of the monks; it was a place for silent individual contemplation, a work space and a place for relaxation and game-playing, suggested by the remains of possible game-boards.
The tour will look at the variations in the architecture of the cloister, which took over a hundred years to complete, and at some of the narrative bosses, the most extensive and earliest known, which express the faith and illustrate the life of the time. We will pass the remains of the Lavatorium where the monks washed, the passageways and doorways leading to the Chapter House, the Dormitory and Latrines, the Refectory, the Hostry, and the Locutory, outlining the life of the monks and how this changed during the Middle Ages.

Timings & Tours

Tuesday 16 September:

Tour 1430

Thursday 18 September:

Tour 1430

Location & directions

The Dean & Chapter of Norwich Cathedral, Chapter Office, 65 The Close, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4DH

Directions:

Meeting point and directions will be issued on booking

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

If you can no longer fulfil your booking, please cancel this by emailing [email protected] to provide others with the opportunity to attend.

Booking contact name:

The Forum

Booking website:

https://norfolkhods.ticketsolve.com/

Booking opens:

27 Aug 2025 10:00 AM

Booking closes:

15 Sep 2025 03:00 PM

Accessibility details

Disabled parking must be pre-booked by telephoning 01603 218300.

Additional information

Max no of people per tour:

12

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

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