Emma De Gauder and the Revolt of the Earls

The extended Bayeux Tapestry in Norwich castle tells the story of Emma De Gauder.  She was a noble woman who held Norwich castle against the King and she was only sixteen years old.  She even held the castle for three months and also negotiated her safe passage.  This was connected to what was known as the “Revolt of the Earls” and Emma and her husband Ralph De Gauder were an integral part of this.  To find out more, please select the following links:  

https://rosiesplaques.com/pages/plaque-emma-de-gauder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolt_of_the_Earls

13 Most Interesting Norfolk Village Signs

 Here is an article about some of the most intriguing Norfolk village signs:  

https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/magazines/norfolk/22614887.norfolks-village-signs-13-interesting/

Village Signs

I don’t normally like including Wikipedia as a source but this was the best article I could find about the background to village signs.  I didn’t realise that it all started in Norfolk with Edward VII - something else we are indebted to him (remember he brought the Victorians to Norfolk and helped to establish resorts such as Hunstanton and Cromer).  To find out more please read the following article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Village_sign

The Gin Craze

The effects of the consumption of gin on the inner city population of London during the 18th century has been compared to the impact of crack cocaine on the American inner city ghettos.  It was the arrival of William of Orange to the English throne in 1689 that drove the popularity of jenever (clear, botanically rich, malted grain-based spirit) in England and turned gin from being a medicine to a fashionable drink.  It resulted in Eight Gin Acts!  Did these Acts achieve their objective?  Who were the professional informers?  What was the shocking case of Judith Defour?  To find out more please read the following article:

https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1108/gin/history-of-gin-1728-1794#google_vignette

Window Tax

Here is an oldie and hopefully a goodie! Introduced in 1696 this tax was intended to tax the rich more and the poor less - but did it achieve it?  How did inhabitants try to avoid paying the tax?  What was the impact on public health? And what constituted a window?  To find out more please read the following article:

https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/towncountry/towns/tyne-and-wear-case-study/about-the-group/housing/window-tax/ 

Life One Hundred Years Ago - Would You Fancy It?

This is an interesting article from the EDP.  It outlines the fashions, foodstuffs, entertainments of the day.  How much would a Cadillac car cost you?  Which King visited Norwich?  How much could you buy a brick built villa for in Ipswich?  And there were still hangings taking place in Norwich.  To find out more please read the following article:  

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/20765268.look-used-live-100-years-ago-fancy/

Origins of the Wedding Ceremony

I thought it would be interesting to look at the origins of the wedding ceremony.  Here are the origins of some key aspects of the ceremony:

Vows: Derived from medieval Christian rites/religious practices.  The origins of the medieval rites are from Roman practices.  The practice of exhanging vows was published in the First Book of Common Prayer published in 1549.  

Exchange of rings: The tradition of exchanging wedding rings originated with the ancient Egyptians, who used rings of reeds or hemp to symbolize eternity and everlasting love due to their circular shape. The Romans later adopted and formalized this practice which was adopted by the Church of England.  

Father giving away the bride:  Originates from a time when women were considered their father's property, and a marriage involved a transfer of ownership from her family to her husband, often in exchange for a dowry, such as money or land.  The custom traces its roots back to the Roman Empire, where it was a way to ensure the groom was worthy and that the bride's family approved of the union

Wedding feast/reception: The tradition of a wedding cake has roots in Ancient Rome, where wheat or barley cakes were broken over the bride's head to symbolize fertility and prosperity.  Before the Reformation, the wedding service included a communion, and the bride and groom would fast before the ceremony. The wedding breakfast was the first meal they shared as a married couple after the ceremony, blessed by the priest.  Ritual feasts relating to the Winter Soltice and Spring Equinox date back to pagan pre Christianity times.