The Cathedral Quarter 1578

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

Fancy taking part?

You can walk our Cathedral Quarter trail from 24 February – 31 March, illuminated from 6 – 8pm every night (scroll down to see the map). Or, if you live or work in Cathedral Quarter, you can create your own window and drop your location onto our online interactive map! 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!

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!

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  at The Bishops Palace, 

Cathedral Quarter 16-21 August, 1578

• The citizens of Norwich worked hard to repair, clean and prettify the route of her progress into Norwich from mid-June and at great expense to the city’s treasury
• The dominant purpose of the 1578 progress was to meet the wayward Bishop of Norwich, Bishop Freake and to seek out those not attending protestant church services on regular basis!
• Another reason for Elizabeth I’s visit was to celebrate her decision to offer refuge in Norwich to skilled textile workers from the Low Countries who were fleeing from war in their country                 
• Huge crowds lined the decorated streets to get a glimpse of a Queen they had only ever seen on the pennies in their purses!
• There was a wide variety of magical entertainment and feasting arranged by Thomas Churchyard to keep Her Majesty amused and happy

 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 Cathedral Quarter Windowmakers. 

There will be 6 trails across Norfolk- will The Cathedral Quarter Progress display the most windows?

The Thetford Progress 1578, Norwich

The Stranger’s Pageant 1578, Norwich

The Hunting Party 1578, Costessey, 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.

Event produced by

With Thanks to our Funders