Follow in the footsteps of Thomas Paine in Thetford – a trail that was created to help attract more visitors and vibrancy to the town.
The Thomas Paine Treasure Hunt project aimed to raise awareness of Thomas Paine, his works and his hometown of Thetford.
Background
The project involved creating a treasure hunt that guides participants through various sites associated with Thomas Paine, including the Thomas Paine Hotel, the Ancient House Museum, Thetford Grammar School and other significant locations. The trail takes you to 13 locations in the town centre. At each location, a question is posed and all answers can be found from information plaques.
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the publication of Paine’s Common Sense, which advocated that the 13 American Colonies should become independent of Great Britain. Common Sense was published in January 1776 and six months later the Declaration of Independence followed.
The Thomas Paine Treasure Hunt was launched in December 2025 and has attracted residents and international visitors, including from the American bases nearby. Enjoy viewing the video with some of the locations and interviews with the project leads Stuart Wright, Chairman of the Thomas Paine Society, and Gez Chatel who is the owner of the Thomas Paine Hotel.
How it works?
Start at his birthplace, now the Thomas Paine hotel, where you can pick up the trail leaflet (also at the library) and view a historical exhibition ‘In the Footsteps of Thomas Paine’ about his life and history. The exhibition is free and can be viewed when the hotel is open.
Don’t miss out on the impressive gold statue of Paine which shows him holding his most famous work ‘Rights of Man’ which is the final stop on the trail!
The trail has been supported with funding from Norfolk County Council and Breckland Council through the Love Your Market Town grant.
Gold statue of Thomas Paine
Stuart Wright
Gez Chatel
In the Footsteps exhibition at the hotel (Paine’s birthplace)