Undercrofts of Norwich

We enjoyed an excellent film on the undercrofts today.  I didn't realise that there are at least 60 in Norwich.  To supplement the film, if you would like to learn more about the undercrofts of Norwich here is a website called Norwich Underground:

http://www.norwichunderground.xyz/undercrofts/

Lazar House

We had a talk about leprosy in Norwich by Peter Balcombe a few weeks ago so I thought an article about Lazar House would be of interest.  It dates back to late 11th and early 12th century but what was its original purpose?  Magdalen House was built beside Lazar House but who did it house?  What happened to Lazar House under the dissolution of the monasteries and what was it known as?  And what is it used for now?  To find out the answers to these questions and more related information please select the following link:

http://www.sprowstonheritage.org.uk/Lazar_House  

Norwich Shawls

We watched the excellent Norwich Society film; Exploring Norwich’s Textile Trade on Tuesday and to supplement this, here is a Museum Service Information Sheet on Norwich Shawls.  It has some well illustrated examples of the designs and goes into detail on the techniques used:  

http://www.ctacostume.org.uk/uploads/1/1/9/5/119530260/nms_norwich_shawls_info_sheet_1987_compressed__1_.pdf

Midwinter and Christmas Celebrations Through the Ages

Given the time of year, here is an article that explains the origins of Christmas and how it has been celebrated through the years.  You will probably know some of this but it will be a good refresher:  

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/christmas/the-history-of-christmas/

A Castle Fit For A King - Norwich Castle

I undertook a walk of the Castle Fee with Colin on Monday and I thought a related article would be of interest.  The Castle Fee is an area outside the Keep that is controlled by the Crown and is normally defined by a stone wall for defensive purposes, very much based on the Motte and Bailey principle, the Motte being a mound with a Keep on it and the Bailey being the walled courtyard outlining the extent of the Fee.  The city would have control of the area outside of the Fee.  There were instances where you could reside inside the Crown jurisdiction, commit a crime outside the Fee and walk free!  The Fee ended in 1345 when the military purpose of the castle diminished and the Crown started selling off their land to the city authorities.  

Here is an article that shows you the extent of the Castle Fee and the early history of the castle.  I didn’t realise that it was subject to at least two sieges:  

https://norwichcastle.wordpress.com/2020/09/15/a-castle-fit-for-a-king/

Hidden Curses and Witch-Graffiti ay Norwich Cathedral

Here is an interesting article on Norwich Cathedral.  A great deal of this information you will know but a refresher is always useful.  The section on graffiti and curses is particularly interesting.  Colin gets a mention so the information is from a good source.  Please select the following link:

https://burialsandbeyond.com/2019/06/18/hidden-curses-and-witch-graffiti-at-norwich-cathedral/

Ordnance Survey Benchmarks

Colin brought my attention to this the other day on one of his Heritage Walks when we were walking around St John Timberhill.  They can take many shapes and sizes but fundamentally they mean the same thing.  Many think it is War Office-related, but it is in fact an OS benchmark (BM) and a means of marking a height above sea level. Surveyors in our history made these marks to record height above Ordnance Datum Newlyn (ODN – mean sea level determined at Newlyn in Cornwall). If the exact height of one BM was known, the exact height of the next could be found by measuring the difference in heights, through a process of spirit levelling. They can be found cut into houses, churches, bridges and many other structures. There are hundreds of thousands of them dotted across Great Britain, although we no longer use them today.