The Murderers: The Crime That Changed A Pub

Like me you may have had a pleasant drink or two in The Murderers on Timber Hill.  But why is it called The Murderers when its sign clearly says “The Gardners Arms”?  Here are a couple of films that tell the gruesome story.  So who died in this infamous pub and why did they die?  What was the murder weapon?  The killer handed himself over to the Police but why wasn’t he hanged?  It’s an interesting insight into the impact of public pressure in Victorian Britain.  The pub also allegedly has a ghost but who is it?  To find out more, please select the following link and press play, you may need to move the red bar back to the start, and you can always give the film a thumbs up (the first film is about 20 mins and the second is about 9 mins long:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbCGTeI5Jfc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmK_V3qLr8I&t=8s

For those that prefer a written narrative, here is an EDP article that tells the story of the pub with two names and the gruesome murder that occurred within its walls.  Please select the following link to find out more:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/why-is-norwich-pub-called-the-murderers-and-gardeners-arms-1552322

The Murder of Lorenz Beha

Here’s another film from the Little Bit of History series and it’s a little gory!  Lorenz was a watchmaker and was born in South West Germany but why did he come to Norwich?  So why was he travelling to Tittleshall and why was he murdered?  And why did the murderer leave a jewellery box and a pocket watch belonging to the dead man?  William Webster saw a man duck down as he passed - could this be the murderer?  Was the murderer found and what was the sentence?  To find out more, please select the following link and press play, you may need to move the red bar back to the start, and you can always give the film a thumbs up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd0QIfmNWoE&t=38s

Here is an article on the murder of Lorenz Beha.  It provides more detail on the carelessness of the murderer.  Please select the following link to find out more:

https://norfolktalesmyths.com/2019/10/28/tittleshall-a-gruesome-case-of-murder/

Peter The Wild Boy

I’ve been in The Wild Man several times for a drink and have heard fragments of the story about the wild man that came to Norwich, so here is the full story.  He was discovered in the Hertswold forest (near Hamelin in Hanover, Germany) around 14 years of age.  He was filthy and badly sunburned, with matted straggly hair and long fingernails, he didn’t appear to be able to understand human speech and was reported as only being able to utter a limited series of grunts and squeaks. In addition to that, his eyes seemed to flit about rapidly and he was very agile, being able to move about very quickly on all fours and climbing trees with ease.  It seemed that no one had any idea of who he could be, who his parents were, where he’d come from or how long he’d been in the forest for.  So which king befriended him and brought him over to England?  And how did he end up in Norwich and where was he locked up?  To find out more, please select the following link and press play, you may need to move the red bar back to the start, and you can always give the film a thumbs up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76LH0Hre7Pg&t=16s

Here is an article on the Peter The Wild Boy.   It’s an insight into the 18th century culture of treating mental health problems.  The article also makes a modern assessment of his health condition.  Please select the following link to find out more:

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

Canaries and Weavers - Flemish Strangers in Norwich

Here is an article about the Flemish refuges that came to Norwich.  So why did the Flemish migrate to England and Norwich in the eleventh century?  And why were there more immigrants in 16th and 17th century?    What was Strangers Hall used for during these times?  What did they think of our diet?  What were Brabanders   and who was Anthony de Solempne?  Please select the following link to find out more:

https://www.the-low-countries.com/article/the-strangers-in-norwich

Norwich - A City of Refuge

Here is a film from the Norfolk Record Office about the refugees that have come to Norwich over the centuries.  Although it is a narration to a walk, I hope you will enjoy the historic information.  So what refugees came to Norwich and why did they leave their native country?  There are references to letters sent home by the refugees which are an insight into their impressions of the inhabitants of Norwich.  There is a story about a merchant that stole £300 but came to a sticky end.  There are also stories of refugees escaping from the Spanish Civil War and from the Nazis.  To find out more, please select the following link and press play, you may need to move the red bar back to the start, and you can always give the film a thumbs up:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Genn23Hqcnw&t=81s