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.

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

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

The key privileges of the Freemen, the right to vote in elections and trading rights, were swept away by the Reform Acts of 1832 and 1835. The Norwich Freemen still kept Town Close Estate – which is now a charity that gives grants to local organisations.