A concise history and directory of the city of Norwich for 1811 — John Shaqi
A concise history and directory of the city of Norwich for 1811Berry, Christopher
History
A concise history and directory of the city of Norwich for 1811
Berry, Christopher
Norwich (England) -- History
Among the miscellaneous buildings, &c. worthy the attention of the
antiquarian or stranger, is Kett’s castle, so called from the famous
Norfolk rebel of that name, who encamped there in 1549, at the head of
20,000 insurgents, whose numbers were continually increasing. From this
place he attacked the city, where he committed every kind of outrage,
wantonly destroying many of the principal inhabitants, merely because
they were gentlemen, and burning and plundering most part of the city and
country adjacent. Every possible means were used by government to
disperse them by lenient means in vain; after which, a sufficient
military force was sent to subdue them, which was not effected till many
battles and skirmishes had taken place, with great slaughter to the
insurgents, and some loss to the army. After the main body were subdued,
pardon was again offered to a smaller party who remained in reserve, and
who presently complying with the offer, and with one voice cried out
“_God save King Edward_.”
Kett and his brother were soon taken and committed to the Tower of
London, where they were tried and convicted of high treason, and shortly
after executed on gibbets, and hung in chains, one on the top of Norwich
castle, the other upon Wymondham steeple, Wymondham being the place of
their nativity, and nearly three hundred others of the ringleaders
suffered. It is computed that Kett’s rebellion cost the nation at that
time near £20,000. This Castle was founded by Bishop Herbert, about
seven hundred years since, as a Chapel dedicated to St. Michael, some
small ruins of which are yet standing: it is situate on the brow of
Mousehold hill, just over Bishop bridge, near to which, close by the
river on the left hand, flows a spring of pleasant water, formerly much
resorted to, and over which was erected a handsome freestone conduit, by
Sir John Pettus, in 1611. A little further to the left, on the other
side of the river, stands the tower in the Hospital meadow, called the
Dungeon, or Cow’s tower; it is a circular building, about fifty two feet
in height, and twenty four in diameter, with a round spiral staircase
reaching to the top; is supposed to have been originally built as an
advanced post and watch tower to the castle; Blomfield thinks it was
built in order to levy the tolls then belonging to the prior and the
church, and says it was used as a prison for the jurisdiction of the
Cathedral. The present tower is stated to have been built in 1390, at
the expence of the city.
In St. James’s parish, opposite the church, is an old house, said to have
been built by the celebrated Sir John Fastolf, and termed in antient
records his palace, or city house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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