Monthly meetings with a speaker are held in the Noverre Suite of The Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich, NR2 1RQ on the third Wednesday of each month at 2.00pm, doors open 1.30pm.

Two hours are set aside after the speaker to allow members to mix and socialise with each other and the committee.

Tea, coffee, biscuits and tables are provided.

​There’s no charge for members (find out how to join here: https://www.u3anorwich.org) and guests cost £2.50.

This talk will focus on the maritime history of the Glaven ports (Blakeney, Cley and Wiveton) from the time of the first document mentioning the port (1230) to the start of the 19th century, describing the growth, maritime hey-day and subsequent development into the coastal trade by the end of the period as well as examining how the changing coastline influenced this narrative.
Jonathan Hooton studied Historical Geography under Professor H C Darby at Selwyn College Cambridge where he gained an MA in Geography in 1977. He has taught geography and environmental science for much of his career and led many fieldtrips to the north Norfolk Coast. In 1996 with the help of the Blakeney Area Historical Society he published The Glaven Ports, a maritime history of Blakeney, Cley and Wiveton and has continued to research shipping along the north Norfolk Coast. He has also been active in the Norwich Society, being Chairman of the Society from 2015-17, and is also a fully qualified City of Norwich Tour Guide where he leads tours and gives talks. Among Jonathan’s other interests are folk music, Morris dancing, cricket and landscape history.