Norwich

Norwich is a historic city in England, located in the county of Norfolk. It sits near the River Wensum, about 100 miles northeast of London. As the county town of Norfolk, Norwich is an important place with a rich history.

For many years, from the medieval period through the times before industrialization, Norwich was one of the wealthiest and largest towns in England, second only to London. Today, it remains the biggest settlement in the region known as East Anglia.

The city is home to a beautiful cathedral and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Norwich. In recent years, the population of Norwich has grown, with around 144,000 people living in the city area as of 2021.

Heritage and status

Norwich is known for having many old buildings and streets that have been kept just as they were in the past. You can walk on cobbled streets like Elm Hill and see interesting houses such as Dragon Hall and The Guildhall. The city also has a beautiful old river called the River Wensum that flows through it.

In 2012, Norwich became the first city in England to be named a UNESCO City of Literature. Many people visit Norwich because it is a nice place to see and live in.

History

See also: Timeline of Norwich

Origin

The capital of the Iceni tribe was a settlement near the village of Caistor St Edmund on the River Tas about 5 mi (8 km) south of modern Norwich. After an uprising led by Boudica around 60 AD, the area became the Roman capital named Venta Icenorum, meaning "marketplace of the Iceni". This settlement stopped being used around 450 AD.

The Anglo-Saxons settled where the modern city is between the 5th and 7th centuries, creating places called Northwic ("North Harbour"), which gives Norwich its name, and Westwic. Norwich grew into a town in the 10th century and became an important trading center.

Early English period and Norman conquest

It’s thought that three early Anglo-Saxon settlements might have joined together as they grew. Mercian coins and pottery from the Rhineland suggest trading happened far away during this time. The Vikings influenced Norwich’s culture for about 40 to 50 years in the late 9th century. Between 924 and 939, Norwich became a proper town with its own mint. The word Norvic appears on coins from this time. The city was a major trading center in 1004 when it was raided and burnt by Sweyn Forkbeard, the Viking king of Denmark.

By 1067, Norwich was one of England’s largest cities. The Domesday Book, written in 1086, says the city had about 25 churches and a population between 5,000 and 10,000. It also mentions an Anglo-Saxon church in Tombland, where the Saxon market was and later the Norman cathedral was built. Norwich kept being a big trading center, called the Port of Norwich. Items from Scandinavia and the Rhineland have been found in Norwich’s city centre, dating from the 11th century.

Norwich Castle was built soon after the Norman Conquest. The Domesday Book says 98 Saxon homes were torn down to make space for the castle. The Normans created a new area around the Castle, called the “New” or “French” borough, centered around their market, which is still Norwich Market today, the largest covered market in Europe.

In 1096, Herbert de Losinga, Bishop of Thetford, started building Norwich Cathedral. The main building material was limestone from Caen in Normandy. A canal was dug to bring the stone to the site. Herbert de Losinga moved his church there, which became the cathedral for the Diocese of Norwich. Norwich got official town charters from Henry II in 1158 and Richard the Lionheart in 1194. After a riot in 1274, Norwich was the only English city to be officially punished by the Pope.

William of Norwich

Jews first appeared in Norwich in 1134. In 1144, the Jews were wrongly accused of a serious crime after a boy, William of Norwich, was found dead. William was honored as a martyr and later recognized as a saint. People visited his shrine at the Cathedral until the 16th century, though records show few visitors. In 1174, Norwich was attacked by the Flemings. In February 1190, almost all Jews in Norwich were killed, except a few who hid in the castle.

In 2004, workers building a shopping centre found the bones of 17 people, including 11 children, at a medieval well. Scientists believe these were the remains of murdered Jews, possibly from one family. This was discussed in a BBC documentary called History Cold Case. A research paper in 2022 supported this idea.

Middle Ages

In 1216, the castle was taken over by Louis, the Dauphin of France. Hospitals and religious buildings were built, including the Great Hospital in 1249. From 1280 to 1340, the city walls were built, enclosing a large area. Wool trade made Norwich rich, and the city built many churches, more than any other city north of the Alps in Western Europe. Norwich traded with many parts of Europe and had a warehouse for the Hanseatic League.

Early modern period (1485–1640)

Norwich dealt with religious changes in a unique way during the Reformation. In 1549, a rebellion led by Robert Kett happened on Mousehold Heath. Kett and his followers took over Norwich for weeks, unhappy about land enclosures and unfair treatment by nobles. The rebellion ended when Kett’s forces were defeated, and Kett was executed.

Dutch and Flemish families, fleeing religious persecution, moved to Norwich in the 16th century. They brought new skills and helped boost trade and religious ideas in the city. The Norwich Canary, a type of pet bird, was brought to England by these families. Printing started in Norwich in 1567 but stopped by 1572. Norwich got its coat of arms in 1562.

Civil War to Victorian era

During the English Civil War, Norwich had both Royalist and Parliament supporter views. In 1648, an accident with gunpowder during a protest caused trouble in the city centre. Norwich had a strong cloth industry in the late 1600s, similar to areas in the West Country and Yorkshire.

Norwich had a rich cultural life in the early 1700s with theatres, festivals, and many foreign refugees. Despite outbreaks of plague, the city had almost 30,000 people. Britain’s first provincial newspaper, the Norwich Post, started in 1701. By 1726, many men could read, and Norwich had many clubs and societies. The Theatre Royal opened in 1758.

Norwich’s wool trade faced competition from Yorkshire and Lancashire in the late 1700s. The city also suffered from trade problems after Britain went to war with France in 1793. Radical thinkers lived in Norwich during this time, and the city was known for its political activity.

In 1797, Thomas Bignold started the first Norwich Union Society, which later became a big insurance company. Norwich shawls became a famous industry in the 1780s, making high-quality fashion items until the later Victorian period. Norwich was isolated until 1845 when a railway was built. A military base was set up in the city in 1897.

20th century

In the early 1900s, Norwich had many industries like shoe making, clothing, furniture, and aircraft design. Companies like Boulton & Paul and Caley’s chocolate factory were important. HMSO, the government’s printing office, moved to Norwich in the 1970s.

Jarrolds, a well-known printer and publisher since 1810, sold its printing business in 2004 but still operates as a department store and property developer in Norwich.

Pubs and brewing

Norwich had a long history of brewing. Many large breweries operated until the mid-20th century, but most closed by the 1970s. Only small breweries remain today. The city once had over 780 pubs, but by 2018, only about 100 were left.

Second World War

Norwich was heavily bombed during World War II, especially during raids in April 1942 as part of the Baedeker raids. Targets included breweries, factories, train stations, and shopping areas. Over 229 people died in these raids, and many buildings were destroyed. The city was also targeted by a V-2 rocket that missed its mark in 1945.

Post-war redevelopment

After the war, Norwich planned big changes. In the 1960s and early 1970s, many old areas were cleared for new roads and buildings. The inner-city area of Richmond was torn down, and residents moved to new housing estates. A new road, Rouen Road, was built, and many historic buildings were demolished to make way for modern developments like Anglia Square. Other areas like Grapes Hill and parts of Chapelfield Gardens were also cleared. Many Georgian and Victorian houses were lost, and some churches were torn down. More homes were built to replace damaged areas and accommodate growth.

Other events

In 1976, Motum Road got “sleeping policemen” to slow traffic. From 1980 to 1985, there were issues with people living in Argyle Street, which was demolished in 1986. On 23 November 1981, a small tornado caused minor damage in Norwich.

Governance

Norwich has two levels of local government: the Norwich City Council and the Norfolk County Council. The city council looks after things like housing and planning, and it is based at City Hall near the Norwich Market. The county council takes care of schools, transport, and libraries for the whole of Norfolk.

Starting in 2028, these two councils will be replaced by a new single council called Greater Norwich, which will also include parts of Broadland and South Norfolk.

The Lord Mayor of Norwich is the city's special guest of honor. This job used to have real power, but now it is just a ceremony. The Lord Mayor's job started in 1403 and got its special title in 1910. There is also a Sheriff, but this job is mostly ceremonial too. Both are chosen for one year by the council, though their terms were longer from 2019 to 2023 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Norwich has sent representatives to the House of Commons since 1298. Today, Norwich has two areas that each send one person: Norwich North and Norwich South. These areas have changed which political party they support over time. In the 2024 general election, Alice Macdonald became the representative for Norwich North, and Clive Lewis continued as the representative for Norwich South.

See also: Norwich North and Norwich South

Demography

The 2021 United Kingdom census reported about 144,000 people living in Norwich, which is an increase from before. The area around Norwich, including places like Costessey, Taverham, Hellesdon, Bowthorpe, Old Catton, Sprowston, and Thorpe St Andrew, has even more people. Norwich has many people living close together.

In 2022, most people in Norwich were White, with smaller groups of Asian, mixed race, Black, Arab, and other backgrounds. Many people in Norwich do not follow a specific religion, more than in other places in England. There are also people who are Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Sikh, or have other beliefs. The city has many young adults because of the university.

Education

Norwich has many schools for children. There are 56 primary schools, including 16 special types called academies and free schools, and 13 secondary schools, with 11 of them also being academies. The city also has eight independent schools, such as Norwich School and Norwich High School for Girls, and five schools for children who learn in different ways.

The city is also home to two universities: the University of East Anglia and the Norwich University of the Arts. Around 15,000 students study there, many coming from other countries. The University of East Anglia, started in 1963, is known for its creative writing program and research about the environment. It also has a special place for art called the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. The Norwich University of the Arts began in 1845 as a school for designers and became a university in 2013.

Norwich has three colleges for students who want to learn more after high school. City College Norwich is one of the biggest and was founded in 1891. Access to Music and Easton & Otley College are the other two colleges.

Culture and attractions

Norwich has a rich history in art, literature, and publishing. It was the site of England's first public library in 1608 and the first city to adopt laws for public libraries in 1850. The city is also known for its famous authors and artists, including Julian of Norwich, who wrote one of the first books in English by a woman.

Today, Norwich is a popular destination for visitors. Attractions include Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Castle, and the historic Norwich Market. The city also has many shops, theatres, and museums. The Norwich Castle Museum showcases art, history, and nature from the area. Other museums tell stories of the city's past, from ancient times to more recent history.

Norwich hosts festivals and events throughout the year, celebrating music, art, and culture. The city has many places to enjoy live music and performances, from large theatres to small studios. Norwich is also home to several radio and television studios, contributing to its lively media scene.

Architecture

See also: Grade I listed buildings in Norwich and Grade II* listed buildings in Norwich

See also: Listed buildings in Norwich (within the city walls, west of the Castle)

See also: Listed buildings in Norwich (within the city walls, north of the River Wensum)

See also: Listed buildings in Norwich (within the city walls, eastern part)

See also: Listed buildings in Norwich (outside the city walls)

Norwich has many old buildings from the past. The Norwich Cathedral is from the 1100s, and the old castle from the 1100s is now a museum. There are also many old churches, like the Saint James the Less, Pockthorpe from the 1400s. In the old days, Norwich had so many churches that people said there was one for every week of the year!

From the 1700s to today, Norwich grew and got new buildings. Famous buildings include the Norwich Union headquarters and the pretty Royal Arcade made in a special style. The city hall opened in 1938, and after World War II, new buildings were added, including parts of the University of East Anglia, which started in 1964.

• Norwich Cathedral lies close to Tombland in the city centre.

[Elm Hill](/wiki/Elm_Hill,_Norwich) is an intact medieval street.

[Cow Tower](/wiki/Cow_Tower,_Norwich) stands on the banks of the River Wensum.

The varying styles of architecture along Gentleman's Walk

Parks, gardens and open spaces

See also List of parks, gardens and open spaces in Norwich

Chapelfield Gardens became Norwich's first public park in 1880. Over the years, the city added many parks. After World War I, new parks like Heigham Park and Wensum Park were made to give people jobs. Today, Norwich has many parks and open spaces for everyone to enjoy.

Sport

Norwich's main football club is Norwich City, also called the Canaries. In the 2020–21 season, they finished first in the second tier of English football and moved up to the top league for the next season. Their home ground is Carrow Road Stadium. Norwich City has had a lot of success over the years, playing in the top division since 1972. They have won two Football League Cups and finished third in the first-ever Premier League in 1993.

Norwich also has other sports teams. There is a women's football team, Norwich City Women, and other clubs for athletics, rugby, handball, and field hockey. The city hosts an annual 10k running race called Run Norwich. There are also places for skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving, and rowing, as well as a speedway racing history. Norwich has produced some famous boxers too, and even has its own baseball team, the Norwich Iceni.

Statistics

Norwich was an important city in England for many years, second only to London, until industrialization began. This happened later in Norwich because the city was isolated and lacked materials needed for factories.

In 2006, Norwich was chosen as the greenest city in the UK. The city is also trying to become a special type of community called a transition town. Norwich is known for having public discussions in its streets about many different topics. In the past, Norwich had a high percentage of people using eBay compared to other UK cities. In 2006, the city also set up one of the largest free Wi-Fi networks in the country. Later, in 2007, Norwich was a finalist for an international award for being a livable community and won a silver award in the small-city category.

Economy and infrastructure

Norwich's economy started with making things, like shoes, but changed in the 1980s and 1990s to focus more on services.

The area around Norwich, including places like Broadland and South Norfolk, had an economy worth about £7.4 billion in 2011. The main jobs in Norwich are in business and financial services, public services, retail, manufacturing, and tourism.

Norwich is famous for its mustard, thanks to the Colman's brand started in 1814. Although the original factory closed in 2019, Colman's mustard is still made elsewhere and sold around the world.

The city also has the Norwich Research Park, where many science and technology companies, along with the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, are located.

Norwich has a long-standing market, established by the Normans in the 11th century, which remains one of the largest open-air markets in England. The city also has several shopping areas, including Castle Quarter, Chantry Place, and Anglia Square.

Transport

Railway

Norwich railway station is located in the east of the city centre and is managed by Greater Anglia, which also runs most passenger services. It is the northern end of the Great Eastern Main Line. There are services every half hour to London Liverpool Street, going through Ipswich, Colchester and Chelmsford. There are also hourly trains to Cambridge and Ely along the Breckland Line, as well as local trains to Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft using the Wherry Lines, and to Sheringham using the Bittern Line. East Midlands Railway runs direct trains to the Midlands and North West England, with hourly services to Liverpool Lime Street stopping at Peterborough, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly. Norwich is home to Crown Point TMD, a train maintenance depot.

Road

Norwich is located north of the A47, which connects it to Great Yarmouth to the east and King's Lynn and Peterborough to the west. Norwich is connected to Cambridge through the A11, which leads to the M11 motorway for London and the M25. It is linked to Ipswich to the south by the A140 and to Lowestoft to the south-east by the A146. The city has two ring roads, one inner and one outer, which are incomplete because of the river. Norwich has the UK's largest independent car club.

Buses and coaches

The main bus companies in Norwich are First Eastern Counties, Konectbus and Sanders Coaches; they serve destinations throughout the city and the rest of Norfolk, as well as Peterborough and Lowestoft. National Express runs ten coaches a day to three main London airports: Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick; there are also five services each day to London and one a day to Birmingham. Megabus also has a daily service to London. Most bus and coach services leave from Norwich bus station or Castle Meadow. The Norwich park and ride network has six sites run by Konectbus; in 2004, it was reported to have one of the UK's largest park & ride operations. First Eastern Counties' operations in Norwich began taking delivery of battery electric buses in 2023, funded through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) grant from the UK government.

Air

Norwich Airport (ICAO code EGSH) is a connecting point for the Dutch airline KLM's Schiphol hub. Loganair, Ryanair and TUI Airways all serve Norwich, with flights to Aberdeen and European holiday destinations respectively. Norwich Airport also serves the offshore oil and gas industry through Bristow Helicopters. The airport was originally the airfield of RAF Horsham St Faith.

Cycling

National Cycle Route between Dover and Tain (in the Scottish Highlands) is the only route in the National Cycle Network to pass through Norwich. Norwich City Council maintain seven colour-coded cycling routes in the city known as Pedalways.

Waterways

The River Yare is navigable from the sea at Great Yarmouth up to Trowse, south of the city. From there, the River Wensum is navigable into Norwich and up to New Mills; it is crossed by the Novi Sad Friendship Bridge. Scheduled trips through the city and out to the nearby Broads are run by City Boats from outside of Norwich station and Elm Hill. Norwich City Council gave permission for punting on the River Wensum in June 2012.

Proposed developments

In 2017, the first part of the new 12 mi (19 km) Norwich Northern Distributor Road, linking the A1067 in the north-west of the city to the A47 road in the east, was opened. The rest of the road opened in 2018. There is also some discussion about building the Norwich Western Link section from the A1067 to the A47 southern bypass to the west. Other proposals in the Norwich Transport Strategy include limiting traffic on some roads, introducing five rapid bus links into the city and creating a train/tram link to the Rackheath eco-town.

Geography

Norwich is 100 miles (160 km) north-east of London, 40 miles (64 km) north of Ipswich and 65 miles (105 km) east of Peterborough. The city lies at almost the same latitude as Leicester and Shrewsbury.

Climate

Norwich, like the rest of the British Isles, has a temperate maritime climate. It does not suffer extreme temperatures, and benefits from rainfall fairly evenly spread throughout the year. Coltishall, about 11 mi (18 km) to the north-east, was the nearest official met-office weather station for which records are available, although it ceased reporting in early 2006 – Norwich airport now provides readings. Norwich's position in East Anglia, jutting out into the North Sea can produce weather conditions that have less effect on other parts of the country.

The highest temperature recorded was 33.1 °C (91.6 °F) during June 1976. Typically the warmest day of the year should reach 28.8 °C (83.8 °F).

The lowest temperature recorded was −15.3 °C (4.5 °F) during January 1979. In a typical year however, the coldest night should only fall to −7.5 °C (18.5 °F).

Rainfall, at around 650 mm (26 in), is low.

Travellers' comments

Many famous people have written about their visits to Norwich over the years. In 1507, the poet John Skelton wrote sadly about two big fires that damaged the city. In 1662, Thomas Fuller described Norwich as a lovely mix of city and countryside, with many trees and houses close together.

Celia Fiennes, who visited in 1698, praised the city's strong walls and the big fairs held three times a year. She noted that Norwich was busy with weaving, knitting, and dyeing. Daniel Defoe, writing in 1724, observed that many people in Norwich worked hard in factories and workshops.

John Evelyn, visiting in 1671, enjoyed the city's beautiful gardens and the fine fabrics made there. James Woodforde, in 1775, admired Norwich's large castle, many churches, and the river running through the city. George Borrow, writing in 1851, called Norwich a fine old city with many historic buildings and a tall cathedral spire.

In 1812, Andrew Robertson noted that Norwich had a strong interest in the arts and learning, even without a university. In 1962, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner praised Norwich for having a strong sense of community responsibility compared to other towns of similar size.

Notable people

Further information: List of people from Norwich

Norwich, a city in England, has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some of these individuals have made important contributions to art, science, and other fields. The city continues to be a place where interesting and influential people live and work.

Twin cities

Norwich has friendships with four cities around the world. These include Rouen in France since 1951, Koblenz in Germany since 1978, Novi Sad in Serbia since 1989, and El Viejo in Nicaragua since 1996. These friendships help people from these places learn about each other and work together.

Freedom of the City

Some special people, groups, and military units have been given a special honor called the Freedom of the City of Norwich.

Individuals

• Ove Fundin
• Colin Self
• Arthur Miller
• Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury

Military units

• 1st East Anglian Regiment: 1964
• 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment: 1984
• RAF Marham: 2008
• 2nd Air Division, USAAF Association

Organisations and groups

• Anglia TV
• Norwich City Football Club: 2002
• Norfolk Constabulary
• Norwich Union
• The Jarrold Group: June 2020