Curious Spark is delighted to be bringing this fantastic event to Costessey in Norwich! With your help, we will transform the streets into a magical outdoor Elizabethan gallery for all to enjoy!

Fancy taking part?

Taking part as a Windowmaker is FREE, and everyone’s welcome. You can make a display in the windows of your flat, house, business, school, nursery, car, campervan, shop – or front garden!

PICK UP A FREE ELIZABETHAN WINDOW WANDERLAND MAKER’S PACK FROM COSTESSEY LIBRARY DURING HALF TERM.  

Please don’t feel intimidated. Your display could be as simple as a candle, a Tudor goblet, a royal crown or a Tudor gown. Or you could go all out and create a line of Elizabethans waiting in line to see Queen Elizabeth I progress through your town! Anything Elizabethan goes… as long as it’s family-friendly!

And don’t forget to walk your local trail, from 12 -26 February, 6 – 8pm every night!

Elizabethans? What’s it all about?

In 1578 Queen Elizabeth I and more than 200 courtiers made an incredible journey travelling into the unknown lands of Norfolk on her annual progress.

Queen Elizabeth I visited Lady Jerningham’s Estate

Costessey, Norwich, 19 August 1578

• Lady Jerningham had been an ally of the catholic Queen Mary. This made her a likely person of interest to the privy council. Was she loyal to the current Queen? Or still a catholic at heart?
• Elizabeth however had simply come for the sport and fine food! The 1000-acre deer park must have thrilled the Queen and her throng of accompanying courtiers
• A ‘dyning house’ had been prepared for Elizabeth’s visit. In a later inventory of the 37 rooms of the Jerningham house ‘a great chair covered with red velvet and laced with gold lace’ was noted. Perfect for a Queen’s seat at dinner
• On her way back to Norwich, the Queen was in for a treat! Thomas Churchyard had arranged a ’major’ show just outside St Benet’s Gate. A spectacular, with coaches, Gods and Goddesses all praising the Queen’s virtues
• Finally, the day ended with the Minister from the Dutch church presenting the Queen with a splendid silver gilt cup and a speech in Latin.

 What to do next?

• Contact us to arrange a FREE community group or school-making session
• Click on ‘Take part in this event’ to add your location to our map.
• Click here to get information, inspiration and guidance on making your own window
• Speak and share with your friends, neighbours, schools, and local businesses to ask them to get involved!

Get Inspired!

You can find display ideas on YouTube or find Window Wanderland on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest @windowwander.

If you have any questions or would like to sponsor, promote or volunteer to help with this event, please contact Sarah or Joy through Contact Organiser (the orange button) on the right, or email Sarah who will be thrilled to hear from the Thetford Windowmakers.

There will be 6 trails across Norfolk- will The Hunting Party 1578 display the most windows?

The Thetford Progress 1578, Norwich

The Stranger’s Pageant 1578, Norwich

The Cathedral Quarter Progress 1578, Norwich

Party like it’s 1578, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

The Return Progress 1578, Wymondham, Norfolk

Window Wanderlands have been held around the world, and here are some links if you want to know more:

Window Wanderland on The One Show

Windows of Wonder – The Guardian

Window Wanderland spreads friendship – BBC News.