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Norwich's Timeline

Find out what has been happening in and around Norwich over the centuries by using the menu of dates.

 

AD 43 to 870

  • 43 - Roman invasion
  • 61 - Boudican Revolt
  • Circa 70 - Roman town of Venta Icenorum founded
  • Circa 720 - Small villages on both banks of River Wensum
  • Circa 850 - One settlement dominates - Northwic
  • 866 - Vikings land in East Anglia

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871 to 1068

  • Circa 870 to 917 - Danish occupation / earthwork defences on north bank of river
  • 917 - Edward the Elder re-conquers east Anglia
  • 924 to 939 - reign of Aethelstan / coins minted in Norwich
  • Circa 980 - first documentary evidence of Norwich (in Liber Eliensis)
  • 1004 - Norwich sacked by Danes
  • 1066 - Norman conquest

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1069 to 1175

  • 1068 to 1075 - Normans build Norwich castle using 'local labour'
  • 1075 - Earl Ralf of East Anglia plot / castle under siege / Norwich market established
  • 1086 - Norwich entered in Doomsday Book
  • 1094 to 1096 - Herbert de Losinga establishes Norwich Cathedral
  • Circa 1100 - Stone keep added to castle
  • 1165 to 1166 - first gaol (jail) built at castle, later moved to keep
  • 1175 - Music House built by Isaac Jurnet (oldest domestic building in Norwich )

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1176 to 1349

  • 1194 - Norwich granted status of city by Richard I
  • Circa 1200 - stone bridge and gatehouse added to castle
  • 1253 - Bank and ditch around city
  • 1278 - Norwich Cathedral consecrated
  • Circa 1280 to 1340 - construction of city Wall and 12 gates
  • 1349 - Black Death

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1350 to 1539

  • 1381 - Peasants Revolt
  • 1398 - Cow Tower built
  • 1404 - Charter grants city a mayor and two sheriffs
  • 1410 - Guildhall under construction
  • 1430 to 1455 - St Peter Mancroft built
  • 1536 to 1539 - Dissolution of the monasteries

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1540 to 1800

  • 1549 - Norwich besieged by Kett's Rebellion
  • 1569 - Elizabeth I visits Norwich
  • 1693 - Old Meeting House built by Norwich Non-conformists
  • 1754 - Assembly House built by Thomas Ivory
  • 1790 to 1810 - Demolition of City Gates
  • 1797 - Thomas Bignold founded Norwich Union

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1800 to 2008

  • 1803 - John Crome starts artists school - The Norwich School
  • 1856 - New Colemans Mustard works opened at Carrow Road
  • 1884 - 1910 - Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist built
  • 1887 to 1894 - Castle gaol demolished and Castle Museum founded
  • 1921 - Maddermarket founded by Nugent Monck and Norwich Players
  • 1938 - City Hall built and opened by George VI
  • 1963 - University of East Anglia (UEA) takes first students
  • 1986 - Guildhall becomes Tourist Information Centre
  • 1989 to 1993 - Castle Mall shopping centre built
  • 1994 - central Norwich Library burnt down
  • 2001 - New library, Norwich Millenium Library and The Forum opens costing £63 million
  • 2004 to 2005 New Norwich Market opens
  • 2005 - Norwich's new Bus Station opens
  • 2005 - 21st September sees the opening of the Chapelfield shopping complex ( £1 billion investment / 530,000 sq feet)
  • 2007 - July, Norwich is joins the World League of Historical Cities - the first city in England to be admitted

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Did you know... The city of Norwich is twinned with Rouen in France, Koblenz in Germany, Novi Sad in Serbia, and El Viejo in Nicaragua.