Throughout the Middle Ages, Norwich was England’s largest city outside London and, until the eighteenth century, vied with Bristol to be the Sceptered Isle’s second metropolis. The original source of the city’s wealth was the wool trade (England’s principle foreign exchange earner in those far flung days). As the industrial revolution swept through other parts of the country, Norwich slipped down the civic rankings. The city was relatively untroubled by industrialisation and avoided most of the urban blight that followed it. Much of what did exist was flattened by the Luftwaffe in 1942. The blanket bombing was a bit of threadbare affair as the Jerrys missed both the enormous city hall and Jeremiah Colman’s mustard mill. Despite the bulldozing frenzy of the 60s and 70s that disfigured too many British towns, Norwich has managed to preserve much of its charming medieval legacy.
Apparently, Jeremiah Colman was one of those rare Victorian philanthropists who were good to their workers. This goes to prove that you can get filthy rich without screwing the poor. Until recently, Colman’s was the main sponsor of Norwich City Football Club. This crown has now passed to Delia Smith, Blighty’s most famous no-nonsense cook and obsessive football fan. However, St Delia (as she’s known in the pie trade) is not a local lass. Norwich’s most famous daughter is Edith Cavell. Nurse Cavell was shot for treason by the dastardly Germans in the Great War because she helped smuggle British prisoners of war out of occupied Belgium. It caused an international outcry at the time and badly damaged Imperial Germany’s image. Well, it just wasn’t cricket and not nearly as funny as ‘Allo, ‘Allo.
Like anywhere, I’m sure it has its problems but Norwich today is a sparkling hilly liberal jewel within a flat sea of true blue conservatism. The council is Labour-controlled and the city returns two members to Parliament. The current incumbents – Simon Wright (Liberal Democrats) and Chloe Smith (Tory) both have progressive social views, including a healthy understanding of LGBT issues. Right on Norwich, here we are.
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Oh yes – the Norwich “Canaries” are the football team! Met any canaries yet?
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No, but we’re looking!
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Have you seen Chloe Smith vs Jeremy Paxman? It’s on youtoob, So excruciating it makes you squirm with embarrassment for her.
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I heard about it. She was slaughtered on Newsnight, wasn’t she? An inept government throwing the inexperienced to the lions!
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Elizabeth Fry?
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Oops, forgot about her. I’ll redress this in a future post 😉
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Completely off this topic: Today 1st July is Canada Day! My nation is 145 years old today. Whoopee!
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Congratulations and we still share a queen or two! 😉
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I think a good dose of philamprophing’ would put a smile back on all our faces The banks were in safer hands with the Quakers and Blightys Queen of the Queens ( my interpretation of Cadburys Jack) would never have been sold down the pond.Glad you mentioned Edith Cavell and Paxman is a little gem is’nt he ?
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Yes, though I wouldn’t like to cross him 🙂
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I love hearing about everyone’s own little corner of the world – didn’t know Norwich was second in size only to London during medieval times or that you can claim Colman’s mustard. Mustard is my favorite condiment, so that’s a big plus in my book!
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No one’s table is complete without it!
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Missing the turkey … but the mustard will make up for it! Good luck, you two bonnie laddies!
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Thank you 😉
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