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View the Brochure for The Old Norwich Arms

For Yorke Trust event bookings please visit the Yorke Trust.org website

The Yorke Trust was founded in 1985, with assistance from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, with the aim of advancing education in music. Check our Events Page  for dates of forthcoming events.

One important focus of the Trust's activities has been the comparatively new concept of children learning the double bass. The Yorke Mini-Bass Project, led by the Trust's Chairman Rodney Slatford OBE, has enabled literally hundreds of children to learn.

Good teaching principles, new repertoire and high-quality equipment developed within the scheme have set new international standards.

A generous legacy from the late Vida Slatford has given the trustees this unique opportunity to develop a nationally significant resource for the future. In addition to this work, the David Dunn Fund and the Frederick and Vida Slatford Fund enable small bursaries to be awarded to young musicians from time to time, to assist with their musical studies.

David Dunn award

The Yorke Trust administers an award designed to help very young players, from a special fund set up in memory of David Dunn who was General Manager of Yorke Edition until he died in 1988. Recipients are normally selected by audition during the annual Ida Carroll Double Bass Weekend held at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. All enquiries should be addressed to Yorke Edition.

The Old Chapel and Old Norwich Arms form a flexible rural centre for the performing arts and small conferences. Set in beautiful surroundings, the centre is used for many purposes by the local community and for young people. It serves as a national centre for high quality musical training for students and teachers, the special atmosphere of this country retreat offering and added dimension to serious study and creativity.

·  The Old Chapel (1738) providing two large rehearsal/performance spaces suitable for music, movement, drama or meetings.
 

·  The Old Norwich Arms (1746), a former public house, refurbished to a high standard to provide self-catering accommodation for 13. The house is next door to the Old Chapel.

·  Ground floor access for the disabled.
 

·  The comforts of a country cottage with intimate reception rooms, log fire and full central heating.
 

·  A large dining table to seat 17 and a well equipped kitchen which can feed up to 50 buffet-style.
 

·  Ample parking in the courtyard which gives on to a mature orchard and large informal garden.
 

·  The village shop, a restaurant and public house only 8 minutes walk away.
 

·  Excellent beaches, walking, bird-watching, painting and other outdoor activities within easy reach.

Norfolk's Best says of the Old Norwich Arms...

"Sleeping up to 13 persons, the Old Norwich Arms offers ideal holiday accommodation for a group of young people, a family get-together or members of ornithology clubs or other specialist groups wishing to pursue their interest in North Norfolk.

It is many years since the brick and flint property, built in 1746, was one of five pubs in South Creake. Only one remains - the Ostrich, just down the road.

The Old Norwich Arms kitchen is a delight, with space for many hands to make light work and two cookers with large electric ovens and plenty of gas boiling rings. There is a separate laundry room. The dining room table was specially made and is more than eight feet long.

One end of the sitting room has an interesting wall and ceiling feature of pine. This room stretched from the front to the rear of the property and is divided by a wide archway. There is plenty of comfortable seating and an open alcove houses logs for the fireplace. The property has full central heating.

Each of the six bedrooms is named after a musician – the chairman of the small charity that owns the property has followed a long career as a professional bass player. One twin-bedded room, with en suite facilities, is named after the 19th century virtuoso double bass player Dragonetti.

The bedrooms are small but not cramped and have single beds with bright duvets. All have a bathroom close by. Some windows have a view across a field to the parish church, others overlook the garden and extensive orchard at the rear.

An adjoining outbuilding has been cleverly converted into bedrooms with double bunks and en suite bathrooms."

Yorke Trust Award

An annual award is offered in association with Yorke Edition at the Royal Overseas League Music Competition in London. This is for playing of professional recital standard and information is available on request.