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

It’s an old tradition that freemen had the right to be hanged with a silk noose!

New freemen have to swear an oath to be ‘buxom’ to the mayor. This is a medieval way of declaring obedience and loyalty to the mayor.

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