Timeline of Norwich

Prior to 12th century

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

12th–13th centuries

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

14th–15th centuries

• 1341 – Norwich Market ceded to city.
• 1342 – City walls built.
• 1348 – Plague.
• 1383 – Queen Anne of Bohemia visits Norwich.
• 1384 – Cloth Seld established.
• 1385 – Guild of Saint George founded.
• 1404 – Norwich incorporated.
• 1411 – Market Cross built.
• 1413 – Norwich Guildhall built.
• 1414 – Fire.
• 1430 – Great Hall built.
• 1443 – Gladman's Insurrection.
• 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.
• 1510 – Church of St John Maddermarket rebuilt.
• 1521 – Coslany Bridge rebuilt.
• 1532 – Group of women punished for selling grain below the set rate at Norwich Market.
• 1534 – Norwich is the first English city to receive a Rebuilding Statute from parliament.
• 1543 – Hatters company formed.
• 1549 – Kett's Rebellion.
• 1554 – Russell company of weavers founded.
• 1558 – Cunningham's map of city created.
• 1565 – Walloons arrive in Norwich and French Church established.
• 1567 – Anthony de Solempne sets up printing press.
• 1573 – Fye Bridge rebuilt.
• 1578 – Queen Elizabeth I visits city.
• 1589 – Blackfriars Bridge rebuilt.
• 1591 – Whitefriars Bridge rebuilt

17th century

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

18th century

• 1701 – Norwich Post newspaper begins publication.
• 1727 – Norwich Mercury newspaper begins publication.
• 1731 – White Swan Playhouse active.
• 1754 – Assembly House built.
• 1756 – Octagon Chapel built.
• 1757 – Theatre built.
• 1761 – Norfolk Chronicle newspaper begins publication.
• 1762 – Hills and Underwood distillery in business.
• 1763 – Richard Beatniffe bookseller in business.
• 1770 – Gurney's Bank established.
• 1771 – Norfolk and Norwich Hospital founded.
• 1784
• * Blackfriars Bridge rebuilt.
• * Norfolk and Norwich Subscription Library established.
• 1785 – William Stevenson bookseller in business.
• 1786 – Norfolk And Norwich Benevolent Medical Society founded.
• 1792 – Hudson & Harvey bank established.
• 1800 – Fish's Musical Circulating Library in business.

19th century

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

20th century

• 1901 – Population: 111,733.
• 1902 – Norwich City Football Club founded, inheriting the song "On the Ball, City".
• 1903 – Grand Opera House opens.
• 1909 – Sewell Park opens.
• 1910 – St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church built, now cathedral
• 1911 – Picture House opens.
• 1921 – Maddermarket Theatre founded.
• 1923 – First woman Lord Mayor.
• 1924 – Heigham Park opens.
• 1925
• * Wensum Park opened
• * The Ferry Boat Inn in business.
• * Whitefriars Bridge rebuilt again.
• 1928 – Eaton Park opens.
• 1929 – Sloughbottom Park and Mile Cross Gardens open.
• 1933
• * Waterloo Park opens.
• * Fye Bridge rebuilt again.
• 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.
• 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 established.
• 2005 – Delia Smith makes "Let's be 'avin' you!" speech at Carrow Road.
• 2006 – 99.9 Radio Norwich begins broadcasting.
• 2007 – Theatre Royal building refurbished.
• 2009
• * Norwich Film Festival begins.
• * 25 July – First Norwich Pride parade.
• 2018 – Colman's announces transfer of most of its mustard production away from Norwich.
• 2020 – COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in the 17th–18th centuries

Published in the 19th century

1800s–1840s

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1850s–1890s

• *
• *
• *

Published in the 20th century

• E. A. Kent, The Mayors of Norwich, 1403 to 1835

Published in the 21st century

• Carole Rawcliffe and Richard Wilson, eds., Norwich since 1550: a fine city