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.

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

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

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.