Norwich

Norwich, the county town of Norfolk, a city, parliamentary and municipal borough, and county in itself, is situated on the Wensum, 20 miles W. of Yarmouth and 114 N.E. of London. The city is ancient and picturesque, with no main thoroughfare, the narrow and rambling streets converging towards the market-place. It is believed to have been the British Caer Gwent and the Roman Venta Icenorum. The chief glory of Norwich is its cathedral, which was founded in 1096 by Bishop Herbert Losinga, and retains most of its original Norman features. The W. front, nave, and aisles were altered in the Perpendicular period, and to the latter style belong also the magnificent vault with bosses representing scenes in Scripture history, the clerestory and vault of the presbytery, and the choir-stalls. The cathedral is 407 feet long and 72 feet broad, the length of the transept being 178 feet. The united height of the Norman tower and Decorated spire is 315 feet. The cloisters, Perpendicular in style, are exceptionally beautiful. Of the castle, the only remaining part is the massive Norman keep, 70 feet high, and about 90 feet square. Of the 43 churches in Norwich the most noteworthy are those of St. Peter Mancroft and St. Andrew. St. Andrew's Hall, in which are held the triennial musical festivals, was originally the nave of the Black Friars' church, rebuilt about 1450. There are many other relics of the Middle Ages, including the Guildhall (1408-13), the old Bridewell (circa 1370), the grammar-school (circa 1316), and two gateways, St. Ethelbert's (1275) and the Erpingham Gate (1420) leading to the cathedral precincts. Norwich was at one time the chief seat of the worsted manufacture, which was introduced from Flanders in the 14th century, and crapes, camlets, and other textile fabrics are still manufactured; but the principal industries are now boot- and shoe-making, iron-working, and the manufacture of starch and mustard. There are factories for oil-cake and agricultural implements, and market-gardens abound in the neighbourhood.