Norwich Society

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The Norwich Society was founded in 1923 to protect Norwich’s historic buildings and to improve town planning. It operates independently and is funded by members and bequests; it does not accept money from interested parties.

Its aims include sparking historic interest, building civic pride, preserving beauty and valuable buildings, opposing vandalism, and helping to make the city fairer. To reach these goals it gathers evidence, raises issues, speaks out publicly, builds networks, partners with others, and influences planners, developers and architects.

In its early years, the Society helped stop threats to the medieval city during post‑war changes. When a plan would have widened traffic across the 14th‑century Bishop Bridge near the cathedral, experts from the Society helped win a listing to save the bridge. This led to further protections for the cathedral, its Close, Norwich Castle, the Guildhall and other historic buildings. In the 1930s Elm Hill, a 16th‑century street, was saved from slum clearance and is now one of England’s finest preserved streets.

Today it stays active in conservation and in promoting good design. It runs Design Awards to encourage excellent, innovative architecture and development, while continuing to guard Norwich’s historic character.