The City Of Norwich: Heart Of East Anglia

A journey through historic Norwich by amateur filmmaker Charles Scott.

Following a series of titles giving a brief history of settlement in Norwich from the Anglo-Saxons to the Normans, amateur filmmaker Charles Scott takes the viewer on a journey into the heart of historic Norwich. Beginning near the Cathedral at the medieval water gate of Pulls Ferry, he moves to Erpingham Gate, built in 1420 to commemorate Sir Thomas Erpingham's victory at Agincourt, and on to the King Edward VI School, whose famous scholars have included Sir Edward Coke, Admiral Lord Nelson, George Borrow and Rajah Brook of Sarawak. Elsewhere in the city, the contrast between old and new is evident in the longest row of Tudor cottages in the country and the magnificent City Hall, opened in 1938 by King George VI. In front of City Hall lies the Garden of Remembrance, the market and Gentleman’s Walk. Also shown are houses of significant former citizens, a range of pre-Reformation churches, the Castle and the historic marvels of Elm Hill and Tombland, home to Norwich's first market. The film concludes with fitting hymnal tribute: "Such is Norwich. Industry and picturesque charm, the latest and the oldest, a local capital before England had one, the refuge of the oppressed and the cradle of the brave, the home of the fair and the shrine of the holy."

Featured Buildings

Norwich Cathedral; Pulls Ferry, Norwich; Erpingham Gate, Norwich; King Edward VI School (now Norwich School); Gildencroft Tudor Cottages, Norwich; City Hall, Norwich; Norwich Castle

Keywords

History; Heritage

Intertitles

- C. Scott Present - The City of Norwich, heart of East Anglia - Norwich was founded somewhere between AD400 & AD600 by boatloads of pirates called Anglo-Saxons. They destroyed the town of Caister three miles away. - The next invaders were the Danes and finally the Normans did what you see today. They dominated the original market place, Tombland and the river approaches. - They settled where the River Yare is joined by the River Wensum at what used to be called Northwick, hence Norwich. - PULLS FERRY, the medieval water gate formerly bridged a now vanished canal which flowed to the Cathedral. - The Erpingham Gate, built by Sir Thomas Erpingham in 1420 to commemorate his astounding victory at Agincourt. - King Edward VI School, famous scholars included Sir Edward Coke, Admiral Lord Nelson, George Borrow and Rajah Brook of Sarawak. - Norwich claims to have the longest row of Tudor cottages remaining in the country. - The City Hall, opened in 1938 by His (late) Majesty KING GEORGE VI. - City Garden of Remembrance - Saturday Market Place vendors - Gentlemans Walk - Theses Streets Have Souls - The House of Augustine Steward, Sheriff, Mayor & M.P. for Norwich. He was intimately connected with Kett's Rebellion, 1549. - The oldest of Norwich streets is Tombland which means empty space. It was the first market, the first place at which men feeling themselves to be a community began to trade. - Wealthy citizens built the pre-Reformation churches you find at every street corner, thirty-five of them, a world record for number and beauty. - Castle mound, ancient Keep AD1100, ceased to have military importance as a fortress with the introduction of artillery. Was used as a gaol. Since 1894 has been used as the Norwich Castle Museum. - Such is Norwich. Industry and picturesque charm, the latest and the oldest, a local capital before England had one, the refuge of the oppressed and the cradle of the brave, the home of the fair and the shrine of the holy. - So we leave the city of flowers...the city of craftsmen...the city of friendly folk...the city of a thousand years. - The End