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

Norwich Guildhall was built by the freemen to house the new city government, law courts, a gaol, assemblies and administrators set up in 1404. It was used as the centre of city government until 1937 when it was replaced by City Hall.

During Queen Elizabeth I reign, Norwich Freemen devised one of the earliest schemes of poor relief in the country. It later served as a model for national schemes.

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