Until 1835 only freemen could vote in the Norwich local elections. This created problems as rate payers did not have the right to vote.

In 1289 Hugh de London was fined 12d ‘because he buys and sells in the city and is not of the freedom’

The freemen paid to build the city walls in the early 14th century. The idea was to defend the city from attack, but it was much more useful for collecting tolls.

Anybody who wished to trade freely in medieval Norwich had to become a freeman.