![[Flag of Norwich]](../images/g/gb-norw.gif)
image by Ivan Sache, 4 September 2004
Last modified: 2012-01-21 by rob raeside
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image by Ivan Sache, 4 September 2004
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I was in Norwich last week for a conference, and I had there the opportunity to
see the municipal flag of Norwich and the flag of the
University of East Anglia. Information on the historical city of Norwich can be found
on the Historical Norwich website.
The most interesting facts are:
"Norwich, the capital of Norfolk, was once second only to London in importance,
growing out of several small Saxon settlements at the lowest fording point along
the river Wensum. Before the Norman Conquest of 1066, Norwich was one of the
largest towns in England. The conquerors built a castle and a cathedral, and
established a new market place which is still in use today. In 1194 Norwich was
granted the status of a city, while in 1404 it was given the privilege of
appointing a mayor, two sheriffs and aldermen to run its affairs. Norwich grew
in size and wealth during the Middle Ages. It was the principal market for one
of the most densely populated parts of England and by the late fourteenth
century was the chief centre of worsted manufacture. It remained one of the most
important textile manufacturing centres until the nineteenth century. Over the
centuries Norwich has been the scene of many riots and has suffered attacks by
rebels. Perhaps the most famous incident was the 1549 Kett's Rebellion. Robert
Kett and his brother led a mob protesting against the enclosure of land in
Wymondham; they threw down the fences in the locality and then, with growing
confidence, marched on Norwich itself. Kett and his followers camped on
Mousehold Heath at first. The King's army eventually defeated the rebellion and
the rebel leaders were hanged. Despite the damage done to the city during this
and other rebellions, and heavy bombing during World War II, Norwich has
survived the ravages of time well. Fortunately the most important historic
buildings escaped severe damage, but some areas were badly hit. Much of historic
interest remains within the boundaries of its ancient walls.
Little is known about the early defences of Norwich, although traces of them
have been found. In 1253 a bank and ditch were constructed around much of the
city, the eastern boundary being the river Wensum - an area of nearly a square
mile was enclosed. Between 1297 and 1334 walls, mainly of flint, were built on
the bank. Twelve gates gave access to the city (and also facilitated the
collection of tolls). These gates were well fortified and supplied with great
catapults, mostly paid for by a rich citizen, Richard Spynk, and wardens
kept them in good repair. The gates were considerably damaged during Kett's
Rebellion in 1549, but they were repaired and remained standing until the
Corporation ordered their demolition between 1791 and 1808, partly in the
interests of hygiene, but mainly because of the expense of their maintenance.
For many centuries Norwich has been dominated by its great castle, a symbol of
military and political control founded by the Normans between 1066 and 1075 to
help keep their newly acquired kingdom in subjection. The conquered Saxons were
forced to raise a mound, some twenty-one metres high and surrounded by a dry
ditch, at the end of a prominent ridge of land. A wooden palisade protected the
timber buildings on top of the mound, while to the south and east of the mound
were yards or baileys that protected by banks and ditches. The castle was built
at the King's expense and was held for him by Earl Ralf of East Anglia. In 1075
Ralf, with two other earls, plotted against William I. The King was told of
this, and Ralf fled to Brittany, leaving his wife Emma to hold Norwich Castle
against the King's army. After three months she surrendered, but in recognition
of her bravery was allowed to join her husband. About 1100, when the mound had
settled, masons began to build the stone keep - it took about twenty years.
Entry to the keep, which is some twenty-seven metres square by twenty-one metres
high, was up a flight of stairs to a vestibule at first-floor level and through
the grand entrance into the great hall. This large room, where most of the
garrison lived and slept, took up much of the northern half of the keep. Beyond
it were a pantry, a small private kitchen and latrines. The garrison's food was
cooked in a separate kitchen outside the keep. The southern half of the keep was
divided into a number of smaller rooms, including a chapel, the great chamber,
with a large fireplace, used by the governor and a private room for the King to
use when he visited. Most of the ground floor was used for storage, but at one
end under the chapel were dungeons reached only by holes in the first floor. Two
sets of spiral stairs led from the ground floor to the first floor, then to the
wall gallery and finally to the battlements. The outside walls of the keep,
which is one of the largest Norman keeps in this country, were decorated with
arcading, a most unusual feature and used perhaps because it was built as a
king's palace.
Norwich, it is said, once had an inn for every day of the year and a church for
every Sunday. Medieval Norwich had 57 churches within the city walls, and 31
still exist. Most are Perpendicular in style and are skillfully built of local
flint. In the heart of Norwich stands the Cathedral, separated from the busy
streets by flint walls and entrance gates, but still a living part of the city.
The Cathedral was begun in 1096, the vision of Herbert de Losinga, first bishop
of Norwich. Building work on the Cathedral, a bishop's palace and the associated
Benedictine monastery continued throughout his life, but the Cathedral was not
finally consecrated until 1278. The building is mainly of Caen stone, a pale,
honey-coloured limestone brought over from Normandy, but Norfolk flints form the
core of the Cathedral, and stone from Northamptonshire was used for medieval
additions. This great church has a Norman ground plan and walls, and a
Perpendicular roof and spire, added after a fire caused by lightning destroyed
the wooden roof and spire in 1463. The Cathedral spire is 315 ft (96m) high -
second only in height to that of Salisbury. Below the tower, late medieval
flying buttresses support the roof at the east end. The decision to replace the
wooden roof of the nave with stone vaulting was taken by Bishop Walter Lyhart.
Running from east to west, the stone ribs are joined by painted bosses that tell
the story of the Bible from the Creation to the Last judgment.
Norwich lies at the centre of a great agricultural area, and thus for many
centuries it has been an important market town. The Saxon market was situated in
Tombland, but after the Norman Conquest of 1066 a new market was established in
the area known as 'Mancroft'. By 1300 the main market in Mancroft stretched from
Guildhall Hill almost to St Stephen's Church. Vegetables, fish, meat, bread,
cloth, shoes, livestock and many other commodities were each sold in their
proper place. A small area was kept for the use of smallholders who brought in
produce from the county for sale on market days. By the late seventeenth century
the market was becoming so congested that a new site for livestock sales had to
be found, and in 1738 the livestock market was moved to the 'castell dykes',
below the castle mound. There it remained until 1960, when it was transferred to
Harford Bridge. The main market continued to flourish. At one end stood the meat
and fish markets, separated by buildings from the rest of the area where not
only vegetables, but also 'cloth, hats, shoes, stockings, rope, books, etc. were
sold. In the 1930s the whole market was remodeled to accommodate the City Hall,
it was opened in 1938. Also by the Market Place is the Guildhall, with its fine
chequered flint work. This was built between 1407 and 1413 after the Charter of
1404 was granted to Norwich, allowing it a mayor and two sheriffs. Used for
civic and judicial functions for five hundred years, the Guildhall became the
city's Tourist Information Centre in 1986. Norwich Market Place today is still
one of the largest and finest of its kind in England.
In 1804, Jeremiah Colman moved from Bawburgh to Norwich and bought a flourmill.
By 1814 he could afford to set up in Stoke Holy Cross watermill, and here he
began the manufacture of mustard, which today has become one of Norwich's most
important industries. When Colman died, the business was taken over by his great
nephew, Jeremiah James Colman, who moved it into Norwich to be nearer the
railway. The new Colman works at Carrow were opened in 1856.
The founder of the Norwich School of painting, John Crome, was born near the
castle in 1768.
Admiral Lord Nelson, although born at Burnham Thorpe some miles away, attended
Norwich School, within the precincts of the cathedral."
The flag of Norwich is hoisted over the city hall, which is "a copy of a famous
Swedish building" (our guide could not tell us exactly which one). The flag is a
banner of the municipal arms, that is a red flag with a white castle above a
yellow leopard. According to Ralf
Hartemink: "The City's arms are based on a seal of the XVth century. They
were recorded and confirmed on 27th May 1562. The shield depicts Norwich castle
and the royal lion of England. This was traditionally granted to the city by
King Edward III (1327-1377). In past centuries the arms were shown surmounted by
a fur cap and supported by angels. These additions were of no authority and are
no longer used."
The image above was made using the coat of arms from
Ralf Hartemink's website. On the
real flag, the charges are of a more simplified design. I am not sure that the
leopard has there a blue tongue and claw. The coat of arms of Norwich can be
seen in several places in the city, including the Guildhall mentioned above.
Ivan Sache, 4 September 2004
