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

From the early 15th century, the freemen governed Norwich in relative harmony for 250 years – in marked contrast to other large rival towns in England such as Bristol, York and Newcastle.

Under the freemen’s governance, Norwich grew to become England’s second city after London for 200 years – 1525 to 1725.

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