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Friends of Kett's Heights
Trails around Kett's Heights
Site map
It's a good idea, before you visit for the first time, to download a map of the Kett's Heights site, you will then have a good idea of how to make your way around the site. Do take care though as there are some steep steps and very steep slopes. Please make sure any children are adequately supervised. Note: The step free entrance from Ladbrooke Place is scheduled to be open by the end of June 2024. |
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Kett's Heights industrial heritage trail
Norwich’s Gas Works was established opposite Bishop Bridge in 1830 so that coal, which was burned to generate gas, could be easily delivered by river. The Gas Company owned Kett’s Heights and created paths, steps and gardens for the benefit of their workers. This trail takes you round the site to discover the evidence of this history. |
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Exploring the Herb Garden
A peaceful place to sit and contemplate whilst enjoying the various scents of different herbs. Find more about the herbs in the garden by downloading our information sheet and list of 21 Culinary and medicinal plants. |
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Family Trail
We have put together a Family Trail which you can print out and use to keep your children informed & entertained when you visit Kett's Heights. |
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Shardlake printable tour
(prepared by Kett's Heights) This trail takes you on a tour from the city centre to the site of Robert Kett’s headquarters taking in many of the buildings Shardlake would have entered or seen when he was in Norwich. The text in italics refers to people or events included in Tombland. When C .J. Sansom (1952 - 2024) launched the Shardlake historical mystery Tombland in November 2018, he said “You can stand at Kett’s Heights... on the steepest part of the escarpment next to the one surviving remnant of the chapel Kett used as his headquarters, and on a clear day you’ve got a magnificent view. You feel that you can almost reach out and touch the cathedral spire - that was a real highlight for me.” |
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25 views from Kett’s Heights
The view from Kett’s Heights is one of the best views over Norwich city centre. This guide identifies 25 buildings that can be seen from the viewpoint, and seeks to help you locate their position within the city. Format suitable for mobile phones. |
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Kett's Heights Tree Trail
This trail is intended to show that even on a relatively small site such as Kett’s Heights, there is a variety of trees and shrubs. It is not intended to identify every tree, nor to give a detailed botanical description. Format suitable for mobile phones. |
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Kett's Heights Food Trail
Kett’s Heights has many claims to fame. It has the remains of a medieval chapel, was Robert Kett’s HQ in 1549 during Kett’s Rebellion, and became a terraced garden during the 19th century when it was owned by the gas company. The Heights has been, and still is, a surprisingly rich source of food. This trail takes you round the site to look for the signs of past cultivation, and points out the food that is still available. It complements our booklet, Kett’s Harvest. Format suitable for mobile phones. |
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Kett's Harvest booklet
As you walk around Kett’s Heights looking for food, you’ll be following in the footsteps of medieval monks, who would have grown their herbs nearby. If you forage for wild greens, you’ll be keeping up an ancient tradition of ordinary people everywhere, especially in the springtime. And when you gather our fruit and nuts, you’ll be sharing the same harvest that local people in Norfolk have gathered for generations. |
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Exploring Bricks
David Howarth, one of our practical team, has been researching the many brick manufacturers of the named bricks that he has found during his building work on Kett’s Heights. We have put this information into a short but interesting guide which you can download and read at leisure. There is also a very interesting video produced by Mary Ash, one of our members, entitled Burnt Bricks : A Different Kind of Building Material on YouTube which you can watch here. https://youtu.be/IxKZ3efzXh0 (opens in a new page). |
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Can you spot these curved bricks on Kett’s Heights?
The many terraces on Kett’s Heights were built as pleasure and market gardens in the 19th century when the site was owned by the Gas Company. The retaining walls were built of a variety of materials – bricks, flints, and these distinctive curved blocks, which are pieces of the retorts used to make the gas. |
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How many churches can you count?
Now available to download - map, A4 leaflet & mobile phone guide to the many medieval churches that can been seen from the view-point on Kett's Heights. How many of Norwich’s 31 medieval churches can be seen from Kett’s Heights? We think it is 18, but some are easier to spot than others. Best time of day is in the morning |
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Kett's Rebellion 1549
Download a booklet which celebrates a the anniversary of the arrival of Robert Kett and his supporters to Mousehold Heath in 1549, and the stand they made for democracy and social justice, known as Kett's Rebellion. |
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Enjoy a peaceful 11 minute walk around Kett's Heights in this video. This was shot on an early November evening in 2021. Hopefully, it will inspire you to make your own visit or, if you are unable to for any reason, show you some of the site's attractions.
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One of our visitors has made a lovely video about Kett's Heights. So sit back and take 6 minutes out of your day to enjoy the sights & history of The Heights. Many thanks to Dan Stamp.
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In July 2016 The Common Lot came to Kett's Heights and gave two performances of their musical play 1549 all about Kett's Rebellion. After the evening performance the beacon on the viewpoint was lit and we all stood around the blaze singing songs from the musical. A great experience! |
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