Norwich

Norwich during the 11th century was the second largest city in England and later, during the 16th and 17th centuries, the home of various dissident minorities, notably French Hugenot and Belgian and Flemish Walloon refugees fleeing protestant persecution. The spinning and weaving skills these groups brought to Norwich boosted the wool trade, established strong links with trading centres in mainland Europe and their ideas fostered a movement toward religious reform and radical politics in the city. As the wealth of the city grew, many of the rich merchants built churches for their own worship resulting in Norwich having the greatest collection of medieval churches in Europe. Many of these church buildings remain and have been redirected to provide spaces for educational and performance groups to meet making Norwich a rich centre for learning and the arts.

Norwich is also known for its box shaped Norman Castle and large Cathedral, both of which are faced with very hard limestone imported from Caen in Normandy. This stone was transported via a canal cut from the river. In the period following the Norman Conquest, both buildings were used to project and maintain an image of power and authority. The Norman Castle is now a museum to its past along with many interesting exhibits one of which features palaeontology, birds and animals all presented in well referenced displays.