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Old Norwich - River Wensum

From Carrow Bridge, a working counterbalanced lift bridge, the first main stretch of walk runs alongside the Riverside development to Thorpe Railway Station (now Norwich Station), which was opened in the 1840s. In the distance, along the river, is the new foot bridge - the Novi Sad Bridge.

The next section of the walk begins on the other side of Foundry Bridge, passing the Nelson Hotel, The Complete Angler public house and the yacht station situated above the bridge. This picturesque section brings you to Pull's Ferry. Whilst the watergate is fifteenth-century, the ferry house is sixteenth.

Just along from here is the only surviving medieval bridge, Bishop Bridge. It was rebuilt by Richard Spynk in the fourteenth-century. The bridge played an important part in Kett's Rebellion, when it changed hands several times.

The ruined Cow Tower was built in 1398-9 and is a very rare example of a free-standing medieval artillery tower, which formed part of the city's defences. It's battered top is supposedly the work of Kett's gunner.

The walk continues past the grounds of the Great Hospital, a home for elderly people, past the modern law courts, through the industrial heart of Norwich to New Mills, the upper limit of navigation, and beyond through more rural surroundings to Hellesdon and Marriott's Way.

There are many beauty spots along the banks of the river, such as the 15th century water gate, known as Pull's Ferry in the Cathedral Close. Here, the stones used for building the cathedral were brought from Barnack and Caen along a canal built by the monks.

The Wensum, which divides the city in two, is one of the best features of the city. The idea of a walking along it's banks and the city centre was first proposed between the wars, work did not however, begin until 1967. The Riverside Walk starts near the South end of King Street, close to two boom towers, built where the city walls meet the river. Great chains of Spanish iron were used to control ships wishing to enter Norwich.

Norwich grew up around a huge double bend in the River Wensum and the river acted as a natural defence on the fourth, unwalled, side. To the east the Wensum joins the Yare which enters the sea at Yarmouth, the ancient port of entry for anyone trading with Norwich by sea.