Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Friday 4 December 2015

A Castle and A Mustard Shop - Norwich, England


It was wet, cold and windy so obviously a perfect day to visit a Castle and listen to the wind whistling through the turrets.  Oh the things that me and Mumsy will do.  However, we didn't let this dampen our spirits.  So, grab yourself some mulled wine and a mince pie, pull up the portcullis and I will begin.

I will start at the end of our trip as the sight of a mustard shop will make you feel warm and snug inside.  This is the Colmans Mustard Shop and Museum and what we had set out to visit as soon as we arrived in Norwich.


The displays in the enticing shop windows were both nostalgic and inviting.  The beautiful ornate till with its tactile buttons just waiting to have just one more sale ring through the mechanism again.  I could imagine pressing these and hearing the comforting sound of the tapping and dinging from the sales.  Music to my ears rather than the manufactured bleeping that we get nowadays.


The shelves of rich yellow lusciousness of the instantly recognisable mustard pots was a spot of sunshine on such a grim day.


With presents bought it was time to get back into the Royal Arcade and continue with our lists, along with disappearing into the crowds.


But rather than bore you with the delights of Christmas shopping (I am sure you don't want to read about that!), let me take you back to the beginning of our trip to Norwich.  Norwich Castle.


The Castle is a magnificent building, but maybe a little pricey for entrance.  However, not to worry, it was dry and relatively warm (we needed to thaw and dry out!).  The wind was howling through the rafters so we were grateful to be inside.


As well as beautiful stone walls, the stained glass was a welcome splash of colour in the dark surroundings.




One thing that we absolutely love is to see the worn down steps of these buildings.  Centuries of foot steps all sharing the same space and the steps dipping with the weight over time.  Just a little disappointed when we found the twins 'Elf and Safety' had visited before us and filled in this history.


How about this for a toilet with a view.  Some of the sections had a couple of holes in the benches so that the occupants could discuss the daily affairs while going about their business.  I bet some conversations were quicker than others!!


The views from the narrow windows showed Norwich in the brief sunshine, a reminder that the castle was dark from the protective walls.


There were many exhibits on the ground floor but very shiny glass - no good for the camera!  Now have you ever heard of Custard Cups?  Apparently they were used to serve desserts similar to a syllabub.


Aren't they gorgeous?!


I had to share this case with you though, especially with Christmas knocking on the door.  Just a little whistle that tells such a huge story.


In the basement however, there were bars... prison bars.  Can you imagine the conditions back then?  A lot harsher than now.


So that's a little starter to Norwich.  Next time onto beautiful Cathedral, and Edith Cavell's final resting place.


Thank you so, so, so much for your comments on my last post.  You are all so incredibly kind and will keep the smile on my face as I head for the operating theatre!



 photo e127e7a9-646f-47ff-8adb-930c1addf87f_zpsb0e3c980.png  photo 43d9db63-9ac6-4aa6-8adb-43ab052e4dea_zps94055fcc.png  photo c0f49c42-6866-416f-8340-41ce81ee7852_zps0989e201.png  photo 043887a8-568d-4534-898f-0b71d3da8430_zps4f05a031.png  photo dbaee30f-3590-4d4c-b9a6-fb29703b72ce_zpsd520d96f.png  photo 9bec910d-59b0-4394-9417-26a7a2dfed87_zps7071a0de.png  photo b8891b4b-1ce1-4edb-bf8b-ca24b4488d5f_zps91340dc1.png     


28 comments:

  1. Two of my favourite places to visit in Norwich - so glad you had fun. I love the fact that the original mustard shop in Bridewell Alley is now the Mustard Coffee Bar, serving excellent refreshments too. Weekend blessings xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Another trip to Merry Ol' England for me! I love it! I can't imagine all the history and goings on at the castle. If walls could talk. I can tell you, I probably wouldn't be a very good conversationalist while in the loo! I love the old cash regester. I sure enjoy your posts like this! Thanks, Chel.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely, the mustard tins are so cheerful. It is such a long time since I visited the Castle and I remember some of the things in your photos but not all so it was lovely to see it all again. I remember learning about Edith Cavell when I was a child:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, how I love this tour...I have always had a fascination with castles! I guess I didn't realize there were prisons in the basements though. Yikes! Love Colman's mustard...I have a tin of the dry kind in my cabinet.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am a great fan of the Colman's shop a real delight each time I visit. Hope all went well with the surgery. Take care and take things easy.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I visited Norwich Castle when I was a kid and have been meaning to return ever since...never heard of custard cups - love what you've done to that photo of the shelf - and the whistle is very poignant.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Again such an interesting post, I loved to see that vintage mustard shop but Norwich castle is wonderful and really worth visiting. I should like to but I have still so many castles, churches, halls and so on to visit in England that I´ve lost count.
    The custard cups are lovely too and brings me on an idea to serve custard in large teacups.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Lovely post, Chel. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  9. What fascinating places to visit. I must put them on my 'to visit' list! I love the whistle, what a poignant item. Xxx

    ReplyDelete
  10. How amazing, a whole shop for mustard! The castle is beautiful isn't it, I adore the collection of custard cups. Hope that you enjoyed the Christmas shopping! xx

    ReplyDelete
  11. Looks like a marvelous day out. Only the Brits would have a museum to Mustard! :) SO many contrasts in Norwich Castle - the beauty of the custard cups and the cold and damp of the dungeons. Thanks for capturing each with your camera!

    ReplyDelete
  12. All that beautiful history! You're so lucky to live close enough to enjoy it. Thank you for letting us enjoy it too.
    Hope your day is blessed. ~:)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I just love all your photos of the castle! We don't have anything like this in the US so I really enjoy traveling vicariously through your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I feel breathless after having watched tyour gorgeous photographs, my darling, you know how much everything old, indeed, far too ancient enchants me ... what a wonderful post you've published, my sweetest friend, it's really so very precious !
    I heartily thank you, it's such a great gift to me,
    sending love and hugs with so much thankfulness
    Dany

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great place to visit. I adore Colmans mustard & spread it thick enough to see teeth marks. A definite place for me to visit. The castle looks a great place too xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Brilliant Chel, I do love your trips out! And this of course is almost my neck of the woods though we live at the western side of the county. I love going into the Mustard Shop too! More please! Lxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Chel,
    Love when you take us along on your trips. The castle is fabulous. Ohhhhh the history and the stories those walls could tell.
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for the tour! Mustard improves most dishes and that would be a lovely shop to visit. The custard cups are fabulous. Something I have not seen across the pond...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for such an interesting post! I loved seeing the castle and the mustard shop and all the fascinating photos you took.
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh my, I love the mustard shop. We have a mountain named after Edith Cavell in Alberta ... it's very beautiful. I have climbed part of it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I think I would have preferred the one hole toilet! I can't imagine plopping down next to someone to go about my business! LOL! The custard cups are just gorgeous! What a collection! Prayers for your surgery and recovery my friend!

    Hugs, Vicky

    ReplyDelete
  22. The castle is full of interesting spaces and windows. I love to touch the walls and wonder whose hands had previously touched it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've never been there! And I'm not that keen on mustard but I think I would still visit the shop just for the experience! x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Have meant to go to the Colmans museum for years. Didn't even think of the gift shop. Such fun. And wow great toilet view indeed. What a great day

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful!
    I like the toilet. Ha! I love how you wrote about your adventure, well done.
    Carla

    ReplyDelete
  26. Since we don't have any amazing castles here, I am certain I would pay almost any price, and to be able to take photos as well, awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I don't know that I ever could have left that little mustard shop! So charming! But then I would have missed this amazing castle. Thank you for the tour, Chel!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Funnily enough, I remember the mustard shop very well and the castle only vaguely. It's gorgeous, though.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting, I love reading your comments and will answer either by email or on the blog. You can also email me privately in my side bar. Have a great day x

Other Posts

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...