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.

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

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!