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

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.

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

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.