Wymondham Heritage Society publications

The books and pamphlets listed here are publications of the Wymondham Heritage Society and are for sale in the museum shop. We also stock books on related topics by other publishers. The books and pamphlets shown here may be ordered by post [see details at the foot of the page] or bought from local booksellers.

 

An Unlikely Rebel: Robert Kett and the Norfolk Rising, 1549 by Adrian Hoare
The author is a local historian who has studied Kett, one of Norfolk's greatest heroes, for many years. This book seeks to show how a disorganised protest was transformed by the outstanding leadership of Kett, a successful yeoman farmer and tanner of Wymondham.
80 pages & over 30 illustrations £4.95

The Wymondham Market Cross by John Wilson
The Market Cross is linked as firmly in people's minds with Wymondham as the Abbey. It has been a symbol of the town's pride and a gathering place for all kinds of business since it replaced an earlier cross burned down in the great fire of 1615. This pamphlet explains the importance of market crosses and the history of this cross from the early 17th century to the present day.\ 8 pages with line drawings 30p

Wymondham Bridewell: The Hidden Past by Neil Jenson
Neil Jenson led the excavation of the site of the original Wymondham Bridewell, a medieval merchant's house dating from 1350. He describes the development of the Poor Law, the visit by John Howard to the Wymondham Bridewell in 1779 which led to the building of a new, model bridewell in 1785 and its later modification. A detailed site report of the dig concludes this study.
37 pages & 19 pictures and plans £2.50

All Sir Garnet: The First Wymondham Fire Brigade 1882-1919 by John Ayton
This booklet is an account of the founding of the first volunteer fire brigade in the town, of men who served in it and their activities. The creation of the brigade was a major event and was regarded as an important element in the life of the town. This study of how they went about their work gives an insight into various aspects of late Victorian and Edwardian life in Wymondham.
34 pages & 23 illustrations £2.50

Wymondham: History of a Norfolk Market Town edited by Mary Garner & John Wilson
This new history of an old and historic town is the result of research by a team of experienced local historians. It presents the major developments and events which have shaped the town from earliest times to the present It will be appreciated by residents and visitors as an extensive and readable introduction to Wymondham's history.
171 pages & 66 illustrations £12.00

A Walk Around Old Wymondham by John Wilson
Wymondham is an old and historic market town with much of interest to offer both residents and visitors. This pamphlet provides an informative guided tour round Wymondham's central streets, drawing attention to the principal features of its built environment and their history. These include the Abbey, Becket's Chapel, the Market Cross, the Bridewell and many interesting houses dating back to the post-fire rebuilding after 1615 and in some cases to the 15th century.
11 pages of illustrated text with a detailed map in a laminated cover £1.40

Geology on your Doorstep by Tony Cartwright
This pamphlet describes the physical setting of Wymondham and its underlying geology of chalk upon which boulder clay was deposited during the Ice Age. The different types of rock brought into Wymondham are examined and where these may be found in local buildings. Maps showing local relief and geology are included together with a geological cross-section.
8 illustrated pages & a fold-out map 50p

Ordering books

Copies can be ordered by telephone from
Tony Wright
Telephone 01603 452041

Post and packing costs will vary according to the dimensions and weight of the items ordered.
Cheques should be made payable to Wymondham Heritage Society.

Wymondham's Old Inns by Philip Yaxley\ For centuries inns and taverns have played their part in Wymondham's commercial, social and public affairs. Philip Yaxley, a local historian of long standing, provides a fascinating study of the changing fortunes of the town's inns and hostelries from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries.
27 pages, over 20 illustrations £1.75

On the Trail of Robert Kett of Wymondham by Adrian & Anne Hoare
This pamphlet explains Robert Kett's background, the local standing of his family and the beginning of the Norfolk Rising. The reader can follow a plan of a trail round the central area of Wymondham revealing what it was like in Kett's day and his links with it. A drive round local places of interest connected with Kett is also provided.
22 illustrated pages £1.95

The Wymondham Bridewell by Judy Hawkins
The story of Wymondham Bridewell is told from the time of John Howard's visit in 1779 to the establishment of the Heritage Museum in the 1990s. Extracts from contemporary documents help to characterise the model prison which had its new cell blocks by 1785 and was complete in its present external form by 1810. Its later uses as a female penitentiary and then as a police station and magistrates' court are carefully explained.
21 pages illustrated with line drawings and plans £1.75

NEW!

Wymondham Grammar School by Brenda Garrard
This book traces the history of Wymondham Grammar School from its foundation in 1561 to its closure in 1903. It follows the ups and downs of its success and popularity, and the many ways it coped with the recurring problem of lack of funds. This new study shows how the life of the school was affected by the religious and political thinking of the day, as well as by the wide variety of headmasters who served it.
85 pages & 45 illustrations £7.95