This guided walking tour, led by Norwich tour guide Paul Dickson, celebrates the rich and often overlooked contributions of Black people to the history of Norwich and Norfolk. Beginning outside The Forum, the tour offers a fascinating journey through stories that have shaped the cultural fabric of the city and county over the centuries.
The tour highlights figures such as 18th- and 19th-century street traders and Pablo Fanque, the UK’s first Black circus impresario. It also explores the influence of African American servicemen who brought rhythm and blues and soul music to Norwich during the mid-20th century. Among them was Lucas, a 1960s US airman who made Norfolk his home and transformed the Orford Cellar into a centre of soul music.
In addition to cultural contributions, the tour addresses the region’s connections to slavery and abolition. It examines the roles played by those involved in the slave trade as well as Norfolk-born abolitionists such as Thomas Fowell Buxton, Amelia Opie and Harriet Martineau, whose voices helped shape the movement to end slavery in Britain and its colonies.
The tour also explores stories of sport and resistance, including Norfolk boxing legend Jem Mace and his work with Black boxers. Visitors will learn about his influence in promoting inclusivity in the sport and his role in bringing Black fighters into the spotlight during the 19th century.
Finally, the tour honours the legacy of Frederick Duleep Singh, a soldier, historian, archaeologist and philanthropist, and his sister Sophia Duleep Singh, a leading suffragette. Their lives reflect a broader history of political activism, cultural engagement and cross-cultural heritage that continues to inspire.
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