Visiting the Norwich Bridewell Museum

Thirty members of the Norwich Community History Club visited the Norwich Bridewell Museum on Tuesday. We were made to feel very welcome and our thanks go to the staff for making this visit possible. Given the size of the group we decided that it was best to leave people to explore the museum for themselves. I made myself available in the 'House of Correction' display area to talk to people who had missed my talk the previous week about this aspect of the site's history.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any proper feedback from the members on the day, but one thing I did pick up was the surprise a number of people felt at just how large the museum is. The phrase, "tardis like" was used more than once. As you can see from the photograph above, a number of the group were attracted to gather around the maps and a long discussion ensued between them about the changing topography of the city. I have to say, I learned something new from this myself. I had no idea that Norwich once had two dog tracks (a shame they've gone - I'd have enjoyed an evening at the dogs!).

Next week we'll be gathering at the usual time and place in Marzanos Cafe, before walking to St Andrews Hall/Blackfriars with the wonderful Roxanne Matthews, who will lead an exploration of this fabulous site. I wish I could be there for this one myself, but I'm booked up to talk to another group that morning. I look forward to hearing all about it from the other members.

Colin

Please note: the club is now so popular that we are now at full capacity. However, if you are interested in becoming a member of the Norwich Community History Club, please contact me (Colin on colin.howey@norfolk.gov.uk) and I will add you to the waiting list. 

And finally...

Time travellers from the Eighteenth century!

Disorderly Lives: Norwich 1570-1620

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The above record is taken from the early 17th century Norwich Mayor Court records. It describes an incident whereby a woman called Margaret Caly insulted a man, "and often tymes clap[p]ed her hand on her backside and badd him kisse there." At last Tuesdays gathering of Norwich Community History Club members I opened my talk by quoting this case, before going on to explore some of the challenges facing Norwich's civic authorities as they sought to maintain order during the fifty years following the Norwich Census of the Poor in 1570. I hope I managed to convey some of the wider context behind local events. In particular, it was my intention to place the Norwich House of Correction (Bridewell) in its place as part of a whole series of initiatives and innovations by the authorities as they sought to maintain 'good' order as they perceived it. I also wanted to provide some background to members for next weeks visit to the wonderful Norwich Bridewell Museum - a former House of Correction. 

Visiting Norwich Castle Museum

Club members listening to storyteller, Dave Tong, in Norwich

Castle Museum keep ground floor basement

I must admit, due to the weather conditions, I was a bit worried about the turnout for today's session. However, my worries were soon allayed as, once again, we had a fantastic response, with over twenty people coming along. 

Our visit to Norwich Castle Museum was really enjoyable. We split into two groups: one 'led' by me, the other, by my former museum colleague, and friend, Dave Tong. Knowing all too well that the two of us have voices like foghorns, we started on different levels in the keep and gave very different tours. I can't speak about the content in Dave's sessions, but, obviously, I'm pretty well placed to share a bit of my one. 

One of the things I covered were accounts of prisoners alleged crimes in the early 1300s. Using, as my main source, Barbara Hanawalt's 'Crime in Medieval East Anglia' (Norfolk Record Society, 1976), I shared some of the material from the Norfolk Gaol Delivery Rolls from this period. For instance, Gervaise de Swanton and his wife, Joan, were asleep in bed when a gang of burglars broke into their room. One of them - William of Mileham - was wielding a 'hatchet' (an axe). He went to strike Gervaise as he lay in bed. However, Gervaise must have somehow deflected the blow, for the record described how the hatchet got stuck in the (presumably, wooden) head of the bed. In the meantime, Joan, leapt out of bed and, knife in hand, stabbed William of Mileham in the head. He died instantly. She was subsequently arrested and taken to Norwich Castle Gaol to await trial. I asked the group what they thought the outcome of the trial was, and then shared the outcome with them. That's just one of several cases we examined.

At the end, Dave - being a professional story teller - kindly agreed to share a story with us about an old and wily man who gave some powerful officials in a (fictional) castle good reason to consider carefully what they wish for. He received well deserved applause for his tale. Afterwards, Club members I spoke with said how much they had enjoyed the experience. 

We would like to thank the Norfolk Museums & Archaeological Service (particularly, Colly Mudie from the Education department) for facilitating our visit and for making us feel so welcome. Thank you NMAS for enabling access to our group!

Here is some of the feedback members gave in our comments book as we enjoyed a cuppa afterwards:

"Really enjoyed it! Very interesting and nice for me to keep learning more knowledge"
"Always learning new things and meeting new people"
"Fascinating! Very enjoyable and a I learnt a lot."
"Informative, exciting, different day. Good storytelling from Dave 'Ding Dong' Tong."

Ding Dong Tong! I haven't heard that one before, but his name seems to ring a bell. If anyone else who attended wants to leave any further feedback please feel free to do so - either, via the comments section below (all comments are moderated) or via my email: colin.howey@norfolk.gov.uk)

Thanks!
Colin

Norwich Castle Museum Visit - Tuesday 15th January.

Please click on image in order to enlarge

Next Tuesday, the Norwich Community History Club will be visiting Norwich Castle Museum. If you wish to attend you have two options. Either:

1. Meet, as usual, in Marzanos cafe in the Norwich Forum at 10:30 (we have tables booked, to the right of the cafe counter). We will then walk up to the castle, departing c10:50-10:55am
2. Meet near the Castle Museum entrance at c11:10 and wait for the other club members to arrive

Once inside, we will split into two groups. Historian and professional storyteller, Dave Tong, has very kindly agreed to assist me by leading a group around the castle keep. I will lead the other exploration of the keep, looking at the 'hidden' history of this fascinating building (including medieval graffiti and a selection of medieval prisoners' cases). 

If you are interested in joining us, please do come along. 

Best Wishes,

Colin