Here is an article about St Patrick’s day which is celebrated on March 17th. It appears that some scholars believe that St Patrick wasn’t Irish but was Welsh! If he was born in Wales, how did he arrive in Ireland? Where did he study religious instruction? How did he create the Celtic Cross? And what use did he find for the three leafed shamrock? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
Tuesday 30 March 2021
The Trial Of The Lowestoft Witches
I came across this excellent film the other day and thought you might like to listen to it. It’s part of the Little Bit of History series which I would recommend. It’s a shocking insight into 17th century culture, both poor and wealthy, and educated and uneducated. So who was accused of witch craft and why? Would you believe it originally started with a falling out over fish? What evidence was there to support these claims? One man challenged the accusations but who was he and did anybody listen to him? Even when the afflicted were mysteriously restored to health once the witches were convicted, was the sentence still carried out (you can probably guess the answer to this)? And what infamous trial did this case influence thirty years later? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link and press play (you may need to move the red bar back to the start), you may also wish to give it a thumbs up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN-JxAtv4iM
Here is a written article from the excellent Norfolk Tales, Myths and More website about the Lowestoft witches for those of you who prefer to read rather than listen, please select the following link:
https://norfolktalesmyths.com/2018/02/23/lowestoft-its-two-famous-witches/
Monday 29 March 2021
'His works, his monument' - The Final Resting Place of Bishop Joseph Hall
On the night of April 27th 1942 St Bartholomew, Heigham (a suburb of Norwich), was gutted following a German air-raid. The nave walls survived the attack but were demolished during the post-war period, but fortunately the tower was consolidated and here it still stands.
This was the church in which Bishop Joseph Hall (1574-1656), was buried. Following his expulsion from Norwich Cathedral Hall during the English Civil War, he had taken up residence nearby, in what is now known as ‘The Dolphin Arms’ (a property that also suffered extensive damage in the same raid). I have a copy of Bishop Hall’s will and in it he clearly expresses his wish to have a modest memorial. However, following the Restoration in 1660, his, no doubt, well meaning friends and supporters were responsible for a monument within the church, reputedly of extraordinary ugliness (no images survive).
Although the bombing of the church was a tragedy, it did mean that Hall’s wishes were, in a sense, eventually fulfilled. How appropriate, then, that Sir Thomas Browne, who was his doctor during his waning days, wrote the following lines after his death:
‘A
person of singular humility, patience and piety: his own works are [his] best
monument.’
 |
| Bishop Joseph Hall |
Wednesday 24 March 2021
Surrey Street, Norwich - Home of the Linnaean Collection
Because there is such a rich heritage of medieval and Early Modern architecture in Norwich, it is easy to overlook its Georgian treasures. Here is one such - nos. 29 and 31 Surrey Street. Of particular interest to me is number 29 (on the right-hand side of the shot). This was the home of Sir James Edward Smith, botanist and founder of the Linnaean Society of London in 1788. Smith purchased the specimens collected by pioneering Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, following his death in 1784. When he returned to live in this Norwich residence in 1798 he brought with him the entire Linnaean Collection, which was housed here. To think, that a botanical collection of international quality and significance once lived along this street - wow!
If I had a time machine and could choose a person and place to visit in the city’s history, a visit here c1800 would be a contender. I have included a portrait of Sir James (holding an illustrated botanical tome) and a photo of the title page of a three volume set on ‘English Flora’ published by Smith in 1824 (four years before his death) which - being interested in just about everything, and being a book collector - I acquired some time ago (see below).
Tuesday 16 March 2021
The Norfolk and Norwich Nurses' Register, 1900-28
Here is a short film from the Norfolk Record Office. This talk by Daryl Long will explore the the first three volumes. Who were these women drawn to nursing and what attracted them to Norwich, some from far away cities and even abroad? What insights do Matron’s frank comments give us? How many died in World War One? Discover how these registers reveal so much more about these women other than the bare details recorded in the registers. To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link and press play (you may need to move the red bar back to the start), you may also wish to give it a thumbs up:
Mothers Day
I hope all the mothers out there had an enjoyable Mother’s Day with their families last Sunday even with the current restrictions. I thought a related article would be of interest. So what were its origins? I thought it came from the U.S. but it appears to date back to the Middle Ages or even beyond. Who was the American lady who originated Mothers Day as we know it today and why did she try to abolish it? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
The Tabernacle Street Murder: Norwich's Bloodiest Crime
Here is a short film about a grizzly murder in Norwich so beware of the gruesome content - sorry but some history is gruesome! It’s the story of William Sheward and Martha Francis. So why did William commit the murder in 1851 and what did he do with the body? Where is Tabernacle Street in Norwich? How was he brought to justice and where are he and Martha buried? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link and press play (you may need to move the red bar back to the start):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4US4uHkGsmc
Here is also a related written article on the gruesome murder:
https://norfolktalesmyths.com/2018/11/16/the-time-when-martha-went-to-pieces/
George Plunkett
Here is an article about George’s life. Where was he educated and which famous Norwich landmark did he start his first job? He served in the Royal Air Force during World War Two but what was his role and where was he when he was nearly killed? When did he buy his first camera? He replaced his first camera the following year with the camera that would last the rest of his life, but what was the camera? And in what year were all his photos placed on the internet? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
Rosary Cemetery
From the research of these articles I have become more aware of the famous people buried in this cemetery, so here is a related article. It would be great to visit this cemetery when we come out of lock down. It was the first non denominational cemetery in England but what does this mean? When was the first burial? If you regularly read these weekly articles you will know some of the persons buried in the cemetery, there is a famous architect, a business man, a circus proprietor, a doctor, a magistrate and the first lady Mayor of Norwich. To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following links:
https://friendsoftherosarycemetery.simdif.com/newsletter.html
Caley’s Norwich’s Chocolate Making Past
Here is a short film about Caley’s and Norwich’s chocolate making past. The original Caley’s business wasn’t selling chocolate, but what was it? And why did they move to produce and sell chocolate? How much was Albert’s estate worth in today’s money? Which famous artist used to paint pictures on the Caley’s Christmas Crackers? Caley’s was taken over by Mackintosh in 1932 and what famous Mackintosh product was produced in Norwich? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link and press play (you may need to move the red bar back to the start):
History of Lent
My wife has given up chocolate for Lent and does this every year. She has bought a nutty type biscuit to replace the chocolate but it’s not the same is it? I can’t decide what to give up until it’s too late! So what is the meaning of Lent? When does it commence in the West and when does it commence in the East? Why do some of us commit to giving up something? What were the fasting rules? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
Ethel Colman
Here are a couple of short films about Ethel Colman, the first lady Lord Mayor of Norwich and the first woman to become a Mayor of a city in Britain. When did she become Lord Mayor? And what women’s movement did she support? Of course she was a member of the Colman family that had built the mustard business in Norwich but she was always happy to give to those less fortunate than her. She was also famous for her philanthropy and Ethel and her sister Helen built the Stuart Court flats as living quarters for working people, but where are they? On the death of their brother Alan, what was Ethel’s and Helen’s memorial to their dead brother? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following links and press play (you may have to move the red bar back to the start of the film):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCdfs6u5iZs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txaTjXnBInQ
The following link is a Wikipedia article on Ethel to supplement the above films:
Decimalisation in Britain
My wife mentioned that it has been 50 years since the introduction of decimalisation, so I thought a related article would be of interest. Do you know the origins of pounds, shillings and pence? When was the new 50 pence piece introduced? When were the old coins taken out of circulation? Britain was one of the last countries to go decimal but which was the first? What was the value of a shilling and half a crown in decimal currency? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Decimalisation-in-Britain/
Shrove Tuesday
I hope that you are enjoying your pancakes today. I had a lovely savoury prawn pancake with spring green and tandoori spice courtesy of a Waitrose recipe. So what are the origins of Shrove Tuesday? According to the Pagan Slavs what does a pancake resemble? How did the religious association come about? Shrove comes from the Anglo Saxon shriven (absolved of their sins) but what was the pancake bell? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
https://www.britain-magazine.com/events/shrove-tuesday-all-you-need-to-know/
Bridges of Norwich
This is another film from the Norwich Society about the bridges of Norwich from Carrow Bridge to New Mills. It is presented by Venessa Trevelyan. How many bridges are there on this route? There were two Boom Towers on the river but what were they used for? There is the Novi Sad bridge but where is Novi Sad? What function did Pull’s Ferry perform in the 12th century? Why was Whitefriars Bridge destroyed? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link and press play (you may need to move the red bar back to the start of the film):
How Norwich Fell In Love With Canaries
This is an article that tells the tale of the association of the canary and Norwich. Most people know of the association with weaving and that it is the nick name of Norwich City Football Club but did you know that canary exporting was a hugely profitable business to the city? There were also canary competitions held in public houses and sometimes disputes, especially when a Norwich canary was displayed as orange! To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
https://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/how-norwich-fell-in-love-with-canaries-672606
How We Found Vaccines For Four Of History’s Most Dangerous Diseases
Here is a topical History Extra article. Vaccinations were found for smallpox, rabies, tuberculosis and polio, and this article tells the story of how these cures were found and developed. What wonderful work the scientists do! To find out more related information please select the following link:
Jewel Recently Found From Henry VIII’s Crown
This is a recent news article I have been sent about a metal detectorist who has found the centrepiece jewel of Henry VIII's lost crown buried under a tree 400 years! How much could it be worth? The detectorist thought the jewel was some crumpled tin foil out of a Mr Kipling packet but on investigating further he realised what a valued treasure it could be. So why did this jewel appear under a tree in Leicestershire? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
Norwich Guildhall
Following on from the films on the undercrofts and pubs of Norwich, I have found another film by the Norwich Society about The Norwich Guildhall, presented by Richard Matthew. So what 15th century charter prompted the building of the hall? How long did it take to build and when was it finished? How was it financed? How much would a mason have ben paid? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link and press play (you may need to move the red bar back to the start of the film):
The Pub Detective
A number of you enjoyed the film on the undercrofts of Norwich last week, so here is another similar film created by the Norwich Society about Norwich pubs. So what was a beer house and why was it introduced? Did you know there were 593 pubs and 38 beer houses in 1878 Norwich? Why did a number of these pubs disappear? What pub used to be located on Rampant Horse Street? To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link and press play:
When Trams Rules The Streets Of Norwich
Here is an interesting article about the old Norwich tram system. The Norwich Tramway system was opened on Monday July 30th 1900 but what was it nicknamed? Where was the maintenance depot located? During World War One a tramway from Mousehold Aerodrome to Norwich Station was built but how did it cross the heath?To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:
https://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/when-trams-ruled-the-streets-of-norwich-948018
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