Press Release
People invited to workshops exploring Norfolk’s immigration
history
The Norfolk 2000 project, supported by Arts Council England and Norfolk County Council, will
explore historical immigration to the region through four workshops allowing people to share their
experiences, whilst handling objects from Norfolk Museums Service, and hearing specialists from
as far afield as Munich discuss archaeology, history, language, and trade.
Emma Reeve, who conceived the project last year whilst completing a traineeship at Norwich Castle
Museum, said “exploring the many objects in the archaeology collection really opened my eyes to just how
significant immigration has been to the county. Some of the objects are incredibly beautiful and one begins
to wonder about the person behind them. The idea behind the workshops is to not only discover a piece of
history about Norfolk, but to give people from any background the opportunity to share their stories or
experiences relating to this incredibly diverse county.”
The first workshop, led by Nat Harlow, a PhD student from the University of Nottingham, takes place at the
Time and Tide museum in Gt Yarmouth, and explores Roman life in Norfolk and the significance of
jewellery. Ms Harlow said “Archaeology can tell us a lot about society in Roman Norfolk. Sometimes
jewellery was handed down through the generations as heirlooms. We know this because many Roman
coins have been found in later Anglo-Saxon burials, usually with a suspension loop attached to turn them
into pendants. With this in mind, We are inviting people to bring heirlooms or special jewellery items of their
own to the workshop so we can see, and make, connections.”
The second workshop takes place at Lynn Museum, King’s Lynn. Leading it is Dr.Tim Pestell, Senior
Curator of Archaeology at Norwich Castle Museum, who will be discussing trade and cultural exchange
during Anglo-Saxon times, and how this led to the creation of King’s Lynn as people recognise it today.
The next two workshops both take place in Norwich, with one led by Livia Roschdi, a PhD student from the
University of Munich. Livia will be discussing Anglo-Saxon runes, an ancient Germanic language brought to
England from the continent by Germanic migrants in the mid-5th century. Ms Roschdi said “Many people
imagine these migrants as uncivilised warlords arriving from Northern Germany on battleships along the
Saxon shoreline to wreak havoc on the defenceless indigenous Britons. This view of a brutal Germanic
‘invasion’ has been ratified in the past but it is nowadays assumed that Germanic tribes migrated to
England possibly due to adverse climatic conditions in their home countries.” Ms Roschdi will explain how
immigration has changed the English language over time and how the different nationalities which make up
England today are manifested in how we speak and write.
The last workshop takes place at Strangers Hall, and is led by curator Cathy Terry who will talk about the
famous Strangers, Dutch settlers who are most famous for introducing our beloved canary to Norfolk. Ms
Terry added “This project is indicative of the continuing relationship between people settling in this City and
the Norfolk Museums Service.”
The project’s finale will see an exhibition touring to three Norfolk venues. The exhibition will consist of
stories from past and present being displayed alongside specially commissioned artworks made by five
contemporary artists from Norfolk.
Mrs Reeve added “We are keen to make more links between Norfolk museums and different community
groups, including encouraging people who may not have visited a museum before to come to one of these
workshops.”
All workshops are £2 to attend and take place at the following venues (Booking is essential):
1. ‘Fix Up Look Sharp: Looking good in Roman Norfolk’ – Friday 20th February 2-4pm
Venue: Time and Tide Museum, Great Yarmouth.
2. ‘Trading Identities: Trade in Anglo-Saxon King’s Lynn’ – Friday 27th February 2-4pm
Venue: Lynn Museum, Kings Lynn.
3. ‘Connecting the Continents: Anglo-Saxon Runes in Norfolk’ – Friday 6th March 2-4pm
Venue: Norwich Castle Study Centre, Norwich.
4. ‘Here to stay? – Strangers settling in Sixteenth Century Norwich’ – Friday 13th March 2-4pm
Venue: Strangers Hall, Norwich.
The exhibition will take place at Great Yarmouth Community library, King’s Lynn Arts Centre, and the
Forum, Norwich during May and June 2015 and will be free of charge and open to all.
For more information visit: www.norfolk2000.co.uk/events-2/ or email info@norfolk2000.co.uk with your
name and choice of workshop.
Norfolk 2000 is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England
(www.artscouncil.org.uk), Norfolk Arts Project Fund, along with generous in-kind support from Norfolk
Museums Service and The Forum.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Emma Reeve, Project Manager, Norfolk 2000 Project.
Tel 07910341518
Email info@norfolk2000.co.uk
Website www.norfolk2000.co.uk