Timeline of Norwich

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Norwich, Norfolk, England.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Prior to 12th century

• 900–950 AD – Anglo-Scandinavian ditch and bank constructed to north of River Wensum.^[1]
• 924 AD – Market active.^[2]
• 1004 – Norwich sacked by Danes.^[3]
• c. 1067 – Norwich Castle construction begins.
• 1094 – Seat of East Anglian bishopric relocated to Norwich from Thetford.^[4]
• 1096 – Norwich School established.

12th–13th centuries

• 1100 – Bishop's Palace built (approximate date).
• 1101 – Norwich Cathedral dedicated.^[4]
• 1106 – Norwich fair active.^[2]
• 1110–20 – Bridge of St Martins built.^[5]
• 1100 – St Leonard's Priory built on Mousehold Heath.^[6]
• 1122 – King Henry I visits town.^[7]
• 1144 – William of Norwich is murdered.
• 1145 – Norwich Cathedral completed.
• 1158 – Henry II grants the burgesses a charter.^[4]
• 1190 – Antisemitic massacre, Chapelfield well mass grave created.^[8]
• 1194 – Richard I grants the burgesses a fuller charter.^[4]
• 1216 – Dauphin Louis takes Norwich Castle.^[9]
• 1248 – Chapel and Hospice of St Mary's in the Field founded.
• 1249 – Giles's Hospital founded.^[6]
• 1258 – Penitential Friars settle in the city.^[10]
• 1266 – "Disinherited Barons sack city."^[7]
• 1272 – Norwich riot.^[7]
• 1294 – City walls begin construction.^[11]
• 1295 – Bishops Bridge built.^[12]
• 1298 – Norwich represented in parliament by two members.^[4]

14th–15th centuries

Norwich c. 1300.

• 1341 – Norwich Market ceded to city.
• 1342 – City walls built.^[4]
• 1348 – Plague.^[3]
• 1383 – Queen Anne of Bohemia visits Norwich.^[7]
• 1384 – Cloth Seld established.^[7]
• 1385 – Guild of Saint George founded (approximate date).^[13]
• 1404 – Norwich incorporated.
• 1411 – Market Cross built.^[7]
• 1413 – Norwich Guildhall built.
• 1414 – Fire.^[9]
• 1430 – Great Hall built.
• 1443 – Gladman's Insurrection.^[7]
• 1455 – St Peter Mancroft church consecrated.
• 1472 – St Laurence's Church built.

16th century

• 1507 – Two fires on 25 April and 4 June destroyed ~40% of Norwich housing.^[14]
• 1510 – Church of St John Maddermarket rebuilt.
• 1521 – Coslany Bridge rebuilt.^[12]
• 1534 – Norwich is the first English city to receive a Rebuilding Statute from parliament.^[14]
• 1543 – Hatters company formed.^[15]
• 1549 – Kett's Rebellion.^[16]
• 1554 – Russell company of weavers founded.^[17]
• 1558 – Cunningham's map of city created.^[7]
• 1565 – Walloons arrive in Norwich and French Church established.^[18]
• 1567 – Anthony de Solempne sets up printing press.^[19]
• 1573 – Fye Bridge rebuilt.^[20][12]
• 1578 – Queen Elizabeth I visits city.^[7]
• 1589 – Blackfriars Bridge rebuilt.^[21]
• 1591 – Whitefriars Bridge rebuilt^[5]

17th century

• 1602 – Plague/Black Death.^[7]
• 1608 – Norwich Public Library established.^[22]
• 1615 – Peter Gleane becomes mayor.^[23]
• 1621 – George Birch becomes mayor.^[23]
• 1652 – William Barnham becomes mayor.^[23]
• 1663 – William Oliver bookseller in business.^[24]
• 1648 – The Great Blow explosion occurs after a riot, destroying 40 buildings.^[25]
• 1671 – King Charles II visits Norwich.
• 1675 – George Rose bookseller in business.^[26]
• 1687 – Doughty's Hospital established.^[4]
• 1693 – Population: 28,881.^[27]
• 1697 – New Mint established.^[7]

18th century

• 1701 – Norwich Post newspaper begins publication.^[7]
• 1727 – Norwich Mercury newspaper begins publication.^[28]
• 1731 – White Swan Playhouse active (approximate date).^[29][30]
• 1754 – Assembly House built.^[31]
• 1756 – Octagon Chapel built.
• 1757 – Theatre built.^[27][29]
• 1761 – Norfolk Chronicle newspaper begins publication.^[32]
• 1762 – Hills and Underwood distillery in business.^[33]
• 1763 – Richard Beatniffe bookseller in business.^[26]
• 1770 – Gurney's Bank established.
• 1771 – Norfolk and Norwich Hospital founded.
• 1784
  • Blackfriars Bridge rebuilt.^[34]
  • Norfolk and Norwich Subscription Library established.^[35]
• 1785 – William Stevenson bookseller in business.^[26]
• 1786 – Norfolk And Norwich Benevolent Medical Society founded.^[36]
• 1792 – Hudson & Harvey bank established.^[37]
• 1800 – Fish's Musical Circulating Library in business.^[38]

19th century

• 1803 – Norwich Society of Artists active.^[39]
• 1804 – St Miles Bridge built.^[40]
• 1811 – Foundry Bridge built.^[12]
• 1819 – Rosary Cemetery established.
• 1820 – Steward, Patterson & Stewards brewery in business.^[41]
• 1821 – Population: 50,288.^[27]
• 1822
  • Norfolk and Norwich Literary Institution established.^[27]
  • Duke's Palace Bridge built.^[12]
• 1823
  • J. & J. Colman in business.^[42]
  • Jarrolds relocates to Norwich.^[43]
• 1824
  • Norfolk and Norwich Festival begins.^[27][44]
  • Norfolk and Norwich Museum, and Norfolk and Norwich United Medical Book Society established.^[27]
• 1826 – Theatre rebuilt.^[27]
• 1827 – Norwich City Gaol built in Heigham Hamlet.^[45]
• 1829
  • Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society established.^[27]
  • Fye Bridge rebuilt.^[46]
• 1831 – Canal and harbour open.^[3]
• 1833
  • Norwich Yarn Company in business.^[47]
  • Carrow Bridge rebuilt.^[12]
• 1835 – Town Council elected per Municipal Corporations Act 1835.^[27]
• 1837 – Bullard & Watts brewery in business.
• 1839 – St James Mill built.
• 1844
  • Yarmouth and Norwich Railway begins operating.^[27]
  • Foundry Bridge rebuilt.^[48]
• 1845
  • Norfolk News begins publication.^[28]
  • Norfolk and Norwich Archaeological Society established.^[27]
• 1847 – Chamber of Commerce established.^[27]
• 1849 – Norwich Victoria railway station opens.
• 1851 – Board of Health established.^[27]
• 1854 – Jenny Lind Infirmary for Sick Children opens, the second children's hospital in the country.^[49]
• 1856 – Young Men's Christian Association chapter established.^[27]
• 1857
  • Free Library building opens.^[22]
  • Norfolk and Norwich Anglers' Society formed.^[27]
• 1861 – Population: 75,025.^[27]
• 1866 – Chapel Field Road drill hall opened.^[50]
• 1869 – Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society founded.^[51]
• 1874 – 10 September: Thorpe rail accident occurs near town.
• 1875 – Norwich High School for Girls founded.^[31]
• 1878 – Harry Bullard becomes mayor.^[23]
• 1880 – Chapelfield Gardens open.
• 1882
  • St Crispin's Bridge built.^[52]
  • Norwich City railway station opens.^[52]
• 1886 – Foundry Bridge rebuilt again.^[48]
• 1887 – HM Prison Norwich established.
• 1888 – Norfolk and Norwich Photographic Society established.^[53]
• 1891 – City College Norwich founded.
• 1897
  • Labour strike.^[3]
  • Royal Hotel in business.
• 1900 – Norwich Electric Tramways begin operating.

20th century

• 1901 – Population: 111,733.^[4]
• 1902 – Norwich City Football Club founded, inheriting the song "On the Ball, City".
• 1903 – Grand Opera House opens.^[54]
• 1909 – Sewell Park opens.
• 1910 – St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church built, now cathedral
• 1911 – Picture House (cinema) opens.^[54]
• 1921 – Maddermarket Theatre founded.
• 1923 – First woman Lord Mayor.
• 1924 – Heigham Park opens.^[55]
• 1925
  • Wensum Park opened ^[56][57]
  • The Ferry Boat Inn in business.
  • Whitefriars Bridge rebuilt again.^[5]
• 1928 – Eaton Park opens.
• 1929 – Sloughbottom Park and Mile Cross Gardens open.
• 1933
  • Waterloo Park opens.
  • Fye Bridge rebuilt again.^[58]
• 1938 – City Hall built.
• 1942 – April: Aerial bombing by German forces.
• 1963 – University of East Anglia established.
• 1973 – Colman's Mustard Shop opens.
• 1974 – Norfolk Tower built.
• 1976 – Norwich Buddhist Centre established.
• 1977 – Norwich Arts Centre opens.
• 1978 – Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and Norwich Cinema City open.
• 1979 – Norwich Puppet Theatre founded.
• 1980 – Sewell Barn Theatre opens.
• 1982 – City of Norwich Aviation Museum active (approximate date).
• 1988 – Norwich Airport terminal opens.
• 1992 – Norwich Research Park launched.
• 1995 – Norwich Playhouse opens.

21st century

• 2001
  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital founded.
  • The Forum built.
• 2004 – Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART) established.^[59]
• 2005 – Delia Smith makes "Let's be 'avin' you!" speech at Carrow Road.^[60]
• 2006 – 99.9 Radio Norwich begins broadcasting.^{[citation needed]}
• 2007 – Theatre Royal building refurbished.^{[citation needed]}
• 2009
  • Norwich Film Festival begins.^{[citation needed]}
  • 25 July – First Norwich Pride parade.^[61]
• 2018 – Colman's announces transfer of most of its mustard production away from Norwich in 2018-2019.^{[citation needed]}
• 2020 – COVID-19 pandemic.

See also

• History of Norwich
• History of Norfolk