Drama

• In 1790 a 5 year old boy fell through the seat of the “necessary” in the Haymarket – a 40’ drop to the reservoir beneath. He was there for 5 hours until his cries were heard. He was raised in a bucket, but half way up it struck a timber and he was thrown headfirst back down the well. Fortunately, the second attempt to rescue him was successful!
• During the war bombs were displayed outside the Guildhall- Big Bert, Little Bert & Egbert all held pride of place.
• In 1918 Tank week was held to promote the sale of War Bonds a tank was transported to Norwich by rail from London and parked in front of the Guildhall in the Market Place. Its attraction resulted in a total sum of over one million pounds to be contributed during the week, Norwich one of 33 cities achieving £1m.

The Market Place

• The Market was previously referred to as the “tilts” because its uneven ground gave many people people the impression of seasickness.
• In 1854 a statue of Wellington,, was unveiled by Samuel Bignold (Norwich Union) in front of 20,000 people. It was moved to its current site in the Cathedral Close in the 1930s.
• In 1856, the council paid for the installation of the drinking fountain at the east end of the Guildhall. The fountain was supplied by George Melly, who was trying to keep the citizens out of the alehouses. Just as well it didn’t work very well, as ale was healthier to drink than water, most of which came through pumps situated near the city churchyards and was pronounced by health inspectors to be “pure eau de corpse”.
• The Pillar Box at the London Street end of the Walk is a “Penfold” type. The design dates from the period 1866- 1979. They were cast at the foundry of Cochrane & co of Dudley.
• Although Lutyens often proposed to clients that his designs for memorials should incorporate smoke & fire, Norwich is the only place in Britain where this was achieved.
• At the official opening of the City Hall on October 28th 1938 huge crowds gathered on the Market Place. Afterwards George VI went to Carrow Rd and made history by being the first British monarch to attend a league football match.

Law and Politics

• Before the 1938 renovation the market was cleared of stalls and became the “Speakers’ Corner” of East Anglia. Mosley held a rally here & exhorted people to overthrow the Government & monarchy.
• Before the Corruption and Illegal Practices Act of 1833 the Jenny Lind pub was particularly busy during elections when candidates for Parliament threw money from the windows and bought voters beer & pies in a bid to gain popularity.
• Following Ketts Rebellion in 1549, several market stalls stood vacant because the tenants had joined the rebels and had either been executed or fled.
• In 1574 a law was passed stipulating that all unemployed men were to assemble at the Market Cross at 5am each day with the tools of their trade and remain there for an hour in the hope of employment.
• In medieval times traders weren’t allowed to “forestall” i.e. sell their wares between the city walls and the market place.
• In 1886, a market fishmonger called Arthur Riches murdered his wife in Gentleman’s Walk. She had left him two weeks earlier but when he saw her wearing earrings he thought another man was involved and stabbed her in the neck. He was tried, found guilty and sentenced to death but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment as he was “sorely provoked”. Even his father-in-law had warned him to have nothing to do with his daughter!