A Tudor Trail Through Norwich

Note: This is a show notes page accompanying my on-location podcast, recorded in summer 2025.

An Introduction to Tudor Norwich

In this episode of The Tudor History & Travel Show, we’re stepping back in time for a walking tour through the heart of Norwich, one of England’s most historic and fascinating Tudor cities. Once the second-largest city in Tudor England, Norwich was a bustling hub of trade, religion and politics. As we wander through its winding lanes and past half-timbered buildings, we’ll uncover the hidden gems and remarkable landmarks that shaped the city during the sixteenth century.

The backbone of Tudor Norwich’s prosperity was its cloth trade. Norfolk wool was famous across Europe, and Norwich became a major hub for weaving, dyeing and exporting fine cloth. To support this, skilled weavers and artisans were welcomed from abroad, especially during the reign of Elizabeth I, when the “Strangers” (Protestant refugees from the Low Countries) were invited to settle in the city. These immigrants brought valuable skills and helped Norwich maintain its position as a textile powerhouse.

One of the most dramatic events of the Tudor era in Norwich was Kett’s Rebellion. In 1549, thousands of angry peasants and farmers, led by local landowner Robert Kett, rose up in protest against enclosures (the fencing off of common land), poor governance and economic hardship. They captured Norwich and held it for several weeks before the rebellion was brutally crushed by royal forces. The uprising revealed deep tensions in Tudor society and left a lasting mark on the city’s memory.

From the stunning Norwich Cathedral Close to the lively market place where Tudor merchants once traded, and the grand halls where the city’s elite lived and governed, we’ll explore the people, places and pivotal moments that defined Tudor Norwich. I’m joined by our guide, Paul Dixon, an expert in Norwich’s history. We take a walking tour through the city – so lace up your walking shoes, and join me on this journey through time as we discover the Tudor treasures of Norwich. Below is a gallery of accompanying images taken during my on-location visit. You can listen to the podcast episode here or by clicking the button below:

Tudor Norwich Image Gallery

Paul and Sarah on Bishop’s Bridge and walking down towards the cathedral.
Images © The Tudor Travel Guide.

Nordovicum (Map of Norwich, 1581) and the 1559 Map of Norwich.

Bishop Bridge, a medieval bridge crossing the River Wensum and the plaque commemorating the place in which Lord Sheffield was slain during the storming of the city.
Images © The Tudor Travel Guide.

Norwich Cathedral.
Images © The Tudor Travel Guide.

Elm Hill, the site of the Pastons’ house / Augustine Steward’s house and the Britons Arms.
Images © The Tudor Travel Guide.

The Guildhall and one of its doorways, possibly transplanted from a wealthy medieval merchant’s house
Images © The Tudor Travel Guide.

Tivetshall St Margaret.
Image © The Tudor Travel Guide.

Useful Links

To find out more about tours with Paul Dickson, click here.

You can read my blog about Elizabeth I’s 1578 progress to Norwich here, and you can listen to the accompanying podcast episode here.

If you have a few days in the Norwich area, check out my Long Weekend in Tudor Norfolk itinerary,