--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible…" description: "\"What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place Norwich is!\" — J. B. Priestley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/j-b-priestley-9291_norwich_what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible_622822.png" --- # What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place… ![“What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place Norwich is!” quote by J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/j-b-priestley-9291_norwich_what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible_622822.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/j-b-priestley-9291_norwich_what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible_622822.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/j-b-priestley-9291_norwich_what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible_622822.png) > “What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place Norwich is!” [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Celebrates the quirky charm of a familiar town. **In simple terms:** The town feels oddly comforting. Key Takeaway Appreciate local quirks. Themes place nostalgia humor Mood warm reflective Type descriptive lighthearted When to use this quote - Travel writing - urban exploration - local festivals - neighborhood tours Key Concepts Community identity Questions to Reflect On - What makes a place feel 'sensible'? - How does humor shape our view of home? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper issues in the place. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Norwich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/norwich/) [Old places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-places/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) ## Related quotes > [“. . . What a pleasant life could be had in this world by a handsome, sensible old lady of good fortune, blessed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-gibbons/what-a-pleasant-life-could-be-had-in-this-world-by-a-handsome/) [Stella Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-gibbons/) > [From whichever side I start, I think I am in an old place where others have been before me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/from-whichever-side-i-start-i-think-i-am-in-an-old-place-where-others/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“Even now when we visit Indiana I get a twinge in my heart to see the old place. There is a new, young family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ora-jay-eash/even-now-when-we-visit-indiana-i-get-a-twinge-in-my-heart-to-see-the/) [Ora-Jay Eash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ora-jay-eash/) > [“The World is a very old place, so you'll never be able to tell a completely original story”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/the-world-is-a-very-old-place-so-you-ll-never-be-able-to-tell-a/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [Any old place I can hang my hat is home sweet home to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jerome/any-old-place-i-can-hang-my-hat-is-home-sweet-home-to-me/) William Jerome > [“It's a pretty good little old place after all, and I have little time for the gloomers who are eternally shrieking that this old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-robert-ripley/it-s-a-pretty-good-little-old-place-after-all-and-i-have-little-time/) LeRoy Robert Ripley > [The only thing Norwich didn't get was the goal that they finally got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-greaves/the-only-thing-norwich-didn-t-get-was-the-goal-that-they-finally-got/) [Jimmy Greaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-greaves/) > [Supporting the English cricket team is like supporting a second division football team. I support Norwich City football team and when they lose I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/supporting-the-english-cricket-team-is-like-supporting-a-second/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Tony Cottee once played in all four divisions in one season. Cottee started 2000-01 at Leicester City, where he made a couple of Premiership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-cornwell/tony-cottee-once-played-in-all-four-divisions-in-one-season-cottee/) [Phil Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-cornwell/) > [Possibly the best thing about the whole experience is that Kang and I are now really good friends. It's as much of a pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/possibly-the-best-thing-about-the-whole-experience-is-that-kang-and-i/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [ A man got up \[after one of Huxley's 'sermons'\] and said 'they had never heard anything like that in Norwich before'. Never 'did Science… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-desmond/a-man-got-up-after-one-of-huxley-s-sermons-and-said-they-had-never/) Adrian Desmond > [Two thousand years ago, the Holy family had a ramble from Nazareth to Bethlehem - in much the same way as I'm having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/two-thousand-years-ago-the-holy-family-had-a-ramble-from-nazareth-to/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [Norwich is a fine city. None finer. If there is another city in the United Kingdom with a school of painters named after it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/norwich-is-a-fine-city-none-finer-if-there-is-another-city-in-the/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I was born on a pig farm in Norfolk. We grew up in the city called Norwich in Norfolk, then I moved to London…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-orton/i-was-born-on-a-pig-farm-in-norfolk-we-grew-up-in-the-city-called/) [Beth Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-orton/) > [We do not want to be giving quality sides such as Southampton, Palace, Norwich and the rest eight or nine points start and expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ince/we-do-not-want-to-be-giving-quality-sides-such-as-southampton-palace/) [Paul Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ince/) ## More by J. B. Priestley > [In a world shaped and colored more and more by politicians, the nations meet politically, and hardly any other way to settle their differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/in-a-world-shaped-and-colored-more-and-more-by-politicians-the/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [Many a man is praised for his reserve and so-called shyness when he is simply too proud to risk making a fool of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/many-a-man-is-praised-for-his-reserve-and-so-called-shyness-when-he/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [To make the most of Christmas, focus on Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/to-make-the-most-of-christmas-focus-on-christ/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [A novelist who writes nothing for 10 years finds his reputation rising. Because I keep on producing books they say there must be something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/a-novelist-who-writes-nothing-for-10-years-finds-his-reputation/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [To show a child what once delighted you, to find the child's delight added to your own - this is happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/to-show-a-child-what-once-delighted-you-to-find-the-child-s-delight/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/the-first-fall-of-snow-is-not-only-an-event-it-is-a-magical-event-you/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [I fancy that the Hell of Too Many People would occupy a respectable place in the hierarchy of infernal regions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/i-fancy-that-the-hell-of-too-many-people-would-occupy-a-respectable/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [It is good fiction, so largely ignored now, that brings us so much closer to the real facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/it-is-good-fiction-so-largely-ignored-now-that-brings-us-so-much/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/i-have-always-been-delighted-at-the-prospect-of-a-new-day-a-fresh-try/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [Perhaps it would be better not to be a writer, but if you must, then write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/perhaps-it-would-be-better-not-to-be-a-writer-but-if-you-must-then/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [Man, the creature who knows he must die, who has dreams larger than his destiny, who is forever working a confidence trick on himself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/man-the-creature-who-knows-he-must-die-who-has-dreams-larger-than-his/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [There are plenty of clever young writers. But there is too much genius, not enough talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/there-are-plenty-of-clever-young-writers-but-there-is-too-much-genius/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [If you are a genius, you'll make your own rules, but if not - and the odds are against it - go to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/if-you-are-a-genius-you-ll-make-your-own-rules-but-if-not-and-the/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [But some of us are beginning to pull well away, in our irritation, from...the exquisite tasters, the vintage snobs, the three-star Michelin gourmets. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/but-some-of-us-are-beginning-to-pull-well-away-in-our-irritation-from/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [Much of writing might be described as mental pregnancy with successive difficult deliveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/much-of-writing-might-be-described-as-mental-pregnancy-with/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) [Explore all 73 J. B. Priestley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) ## More Norwich quotes > [We do not want to be giving quality sides such as Southampton, Palace, Norwich and the rest eight or nine points start and expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ince/we-do-not-want-to-be-giving-quality-sides-such-as-southampton-palace/) [Paul Ince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ince/) > [I was born on a pig farm in Norfolk. We grew up in the city called Norwich in Norfolk, then I moved to London…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-orton/i-was-born-on-a-pig-farm-in-norfolk-we-grew-up-in-the-city-called/) [Beth Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-orton/) > [Norwich is a fine city. None finer. If there is another city in the United Kingdom with a school of painters named after it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/norwich-is-a-fine-city-none-finer-if-there-is-another-city-in-the/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Two thousand years ago, the Holy family had a ramble from Nazareth to Bethlehem - in much the same way as I'm having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/two-thousand-years-ago-the-holy-family-had-a-ramble-from-nazareth-to/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [ A man got up \[after one of Huxley's 'sermons'\] and said 'they had never heard anything like that in Norwich before'. Never 'did Science… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-desmond/a-man-got-up-after-one-of-huxley-s-sermons-and-said-they-had-never/) Adrian Desmond > [Possibly the best thing about the whole experience is that Kang and I are now really good friends. It's as much of a pleasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-smith/possibly-the-best-thing-about-the-whole-experience-is-that-kang-and-i/) [Deborah Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-smith/) > [Tony Cottee once played in all four divisions in one season. Cottee started 2000-01 at Leicester City, where he made a couple of Premiership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-cornwell/tony-cottee-once-played-in-all-four-divisions-in-one-season-cottee/) [Phil Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-cornwell/) > [Supporting the English cricket team is like supporting a second division football team. I support Norwich City football team and when they lose I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/supporting-the-english-cricket-team-is-like-supporting-a-second/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The only thing Norwich didn't get was the goal that they finally got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-greaves/the-only-thing-norwich-didn-t-get-was-the-goal-that-they-finally-got/) [Jimmy Greaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-greaves/) > [I was born in Norwich in 1946, and educated in England, Zimbabwe, and Australia, before my family settled in North Wales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/i-was-born-in-norwich-in-1946-and-educated-in-england-zimbabwe-and/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [Chris Hughton has been sacked by Norwich. Now? With 5 games to go? Utterly bonkers!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/chris-hughton-has-been-sacked-by-norwich-now-with-5-games-to-go/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [I'm a very rooted person. I grew up in Norwich, Connecticut, I still live in Connecticut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/i-m-a-very-rooted-person-i-grew-up-in-norwich-connecticut-i-still/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [The only real river I knew was hardly more than a brook. It spilled through a tumbledown mill at the bottom of our road,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raban/the-only-real-river-i-knew-was-hardly-more-than-a-brook-it-spilled/) [Jonathan Raban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raban/) > [Let any stranger find mee so pleasant a county, such good way, large heath, three such places as Norwich, Yar. and Lin. in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/let-any-stranger-find-mee-so-pleasant-a-county-such-good-way-large/) [Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/) > [In the tradition of Julian of Norwich and St. Teresa of Avila and all the other mystics, we can learn to render ourselves vulnerable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/in-the-tradition-of-julian-of-norwich-and-st-teresa-of-avila-and-all/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) [Browse all 19 Norwich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/norwich/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place Norwich is!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. B. Priestley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible-old-place-norwich-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Norwich" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible-old-place-norwich-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/j-b-priestley-9291_norwich_what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible_622822.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/j-b-priestley-9291_norwich_what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible_622822.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e23/j-b-priestley-9291_norwich_what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible_622822.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place Norwich is!” — J. B. Priestley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "J. B. Priestley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible-old-place-norwich-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible-old-place-norwich-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```