Earlham Hall

Earlham Hall is a red-brick mansion from the 17th century with symmetrical wings and large windows arranged in an elegant pattern. The building sits on grounds with formal gardens that stretch toward the River Yare.

The building was constructed in 1642 and was originally a private mansion for the Gurney family, prominent Norwich bankers. Over time it was extensively renovated and now serves the university.

The hall was long a meeting place for Quakers and thinkers who gathered here to discuss ideas and social reform. The rooms today reflect this intellectual heritage and show how important the house was to the region's intellectual life.

The house is now located on Earlham Road and forms part of the university campus, with rooms used by the Law School. Since it is an active academic building, visiting is best done during regular hours.

A young writer named George Borrow was once caught fishing on the grounds and later received a personal invitation to see the family library. This episode shows how generous the residents were and how lively the literary connections of the area were.

Location: Norwich

GPS coordinates: 52.62550,1.23660

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:43