Events

Seek out new and unusual plants to make your garden stand out in 2025! With a range of specialist nurseries providing a myriad of beautiful plants, this event is one of the most popular in Norton Priory's annual calendar.

It's £1.00 per person to visit the Plant Hunters' Fair, or purchase the special 'Early Bird Ticket' priced at just £8.50 for each adult visitor (up to three 0-16 year olds are admitted with each 'Early Bird' adult). This Early Bird ticket includes access to the stunning 2.5 acre Georgian Walled Garden, the main museum building and medieval undercroft, and acres of woodland walks.

With free car parking and Norton Priory's onsite Brooke Cafe, it makes for the perfect day out.

The following specialist nurseries will be attending on the day (more to be added):

A Love Blossoms Garden accessories, stakes, planters, garden wall decorations and more

ChickenStreet Grasses and herbaceous perennials for naturalistic plantings

Dibleys The Houseplant Specialists: over 150 RHS Gold medals including 33 Chelsea Golds NEW

Eastoft Echeveria Tender Echeveria, Graptopetalum, Pachyphytum, Sedums & Interspecific hybrids Hardy Sedum, Delosperma and various alpine plants NEW

Freddie's Flowers Fresh Flowers Delivered As A One-Off Gift Or Regular Subscription NEW

Hoyland Plant Centre Agapanthus, Amarines, Nerines, Tulbaghia, Dierama , Arisaema and Scadoxus. National Collection Holders,RHS Medalists NEW

Kilned Earth Premium quality Cretan terracotta pots containing herbs and rare plants NEW

Mayfields Plants Wide range of bee and butterfly-friendly cottage garden perennials.

Meadowmakers Wildflower and native tree plants and plugs

Penmere Plants Hardy, half-hardy and species Fuchsia.

Pottertons Nursery Alpines, Dwarf Bulbs and Woodland Plants RHS Gold Medalists

Primrose Bank Wide range of perennial plants RHS Gold Medalists

Priorswood Clematis Clematis. RHS Medalists NEW

Stonyford Cottage Nursery Moist and shade loving plants, some Exotics and Alpines including Sempervivums.

The Gobbett Nursery Shrubs, perennials inc Iris, Cornus, Syringa in season RHS Medalists

Join us for an outside performance with a difference on the remains of medieval Norton Priory and learn the answers to some of the big questions in life. Who is the God of dog poo bags? How did the microwave get its ping? What ancient crime was Marmite the punishment for… And why was it inflicted upon us?

Senior academics of history, and rather silly men, Professor Doctor Lee Hithersay and Doctor Professor Robert Rhys Bond, forge three new myths from the unhinged minds of their audience - and a boatload of cardboard props!

Will it be Greek? Viking? Ancient Babylonian? They haven’t a clue! That’s all up to you. Help shape the stories and even become the hero yourself (if you want, no pressure) in this EPIC interactive experience!

The renowned Rubbish Shakespeare Company and Silly History Boys present a hilarious hour of high-octane adventure for children and childish adults. Featuring clowning, storytelling, physical comedy, live music and more. 

You’d be mad to myth it! 

The Story Forge is part of Norton Priory's Summer of Stories programming for 2025.

Norton Priory Museum and Gardens welcomes Illyria's sparkling production of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' as part of the 'Summer of Stories' programme.  This outdoor theatre production will be performed on the medieval remains of Norton Priory's cloister.

With her tongue firmly in her cheek, Jane Austen tells us “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Mrs Bennet certainly thinks so. So when Mr Bingley – single, young, handsome, and with £5,000 a year – moves into nearby Netherfield Park, she devotes all her energy to contriving for Jane, the eldest of her five daughters, to meet him during rural Hertfordshire’s whirlwind of social balls.

But even Mrs Bennet draws the line at Mr Bingley’s disdainful friend Mr Darcy despite his whopping £10,000 a year. Thank heavens Lizzy, her second daughter, finds him detestable too! Or does she…? Can she see beyond his pride – and could he overcome her prejudice – to consider a possible future together?

Following seven sell-out seasons of this sparkling adaptation, award-winning Illyria prepares to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday in style. Bring a picnic and enjoy her at her vibrant, forthright, bitchy best! Running time: 140-minutes (approximately), including a 20-minute interval. Suitable for all ages.