Cathedral heritage open day surprise in Norwich 

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich welcomed hundreds of visitors during this year’s Heritage Open Days in September, with tours, talks, and displays drawing strong public interest.

One highlight came during a talk by the Cathedral’s Heritage Officer, Dr Richard Maguire, who explored the unusual history of the Cathedral site in his presentation: “Nothing fills a hole like a double decker – the site of the Cathedral of St John the Baptist.” The talk recalled the dramatic events of March 3, 1988, when a No 26 double-decker bus was infamously swallowed by a sinkhole just a short distance from the Cathedral.

In a surprise twist, Richard discovered that the bus driver involved in the incident, Jim Pightling, was among those in the audience. Jim, who had never previously been given a full explanation of the collapse, said he was delighted to finally understand the reasons behind the dramatic accident more than three decades later.

Richard described the encounter as “astonishing,” adding that it brought history “to life in the most unexpected way.”

Around 90 people attended the talk across two sessions, while a further 50 joined the Cathedral’s exclusive Hidden Places Tour, which gave rare access to normally closed areas of the site.

Cathedral staff expressed their gratitude to Jim and all those who supported the programme of events, saying the week had been a “joyous opportunity to share heritage and memory with the Norwich community.”

Pictured above is Dr Richard Maguire, left, and bus driver Jim Pightling.