A brief history of North Walsham from the 1978-1979 North Walsham Town Guide.
North Walsham is a pleasant compact market town of Saxon origin (Saxon-Waels,-Ham) which grew out of the prosperous wool trade of the surrounding area. The ancient trading records date back to the end of the 13th century when the wool trade was fast expanding. This trade was increased by the influx of Flemish weavers, particularly in the neighbouring parish of Worstead, which gave its name to the famous cloth.
The market grew to considerable proportions and in the 14th century the market lists show a Tollhouse, a Woolhouse and 59 booths, half of which were devoted to cloth and wool.
The town was the centre of the peasants' revolt of 1381 and the rebels under Litester, a local dyer, were defeated by Bishop Despenser of Norwich in a battle on the outskirts of the town. The monument commemorating this battle may be seen on the Norwich road, just before the Westwick woods are reached. Various estimates are given of the vast numbers of peasants killed by the trained soldiers of the Bishop, but there is no doubt that they were considerable and must have had a marked effect on the manpower of the district for some time afterward.
The ancient Market Place of irregular shape was totally destroyed in a disastrous fire in June 1600, which burnt not only the shops, inns and houses, but vast stocks of merchandise of all descriptions. The Market Cross, built by Bishop Thirlby in 1549, was also burnt but this was soon repaired by Bishop Redman.
This Cross, which is the main feature of the Market Place today, was restored in 1897 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and was finally conveyed to the town by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners in 1914.
Fortunately, the Parish Church of St. Nicholas, escaped the fire, though its proximity to the Market Place must have put it at considerable risk. This lofty and spacious church was built in the 14th century though its completion was halted by the Black Death, and suffered considerable damage at the time of the peasants' revolt.
The church, built on Saxon foundations, is 159 feet long with a continuous roof as there is no chancel arch, The tower was 147 feet high but in May 1724 a large part of it fell down. More fell down in April 1835 and finally the dangerous part was taken down in 1836. This left the now familiar distinctive outline and of recent years more restoration of the masonry has taken place.
The Lordship of the Manor for many centuries was held by the Abbot of St. Benets in the Holm and at the dissolution of the monasteries the Bishop of Norwich became Lord of the Manor. This was due to the machinations of William Rugge of Northrepps who was the last actual abbot and who became Bishop of Norwich. This meant that the Abbey was not actually dissolved and that the Bishop of Norwich then sat in the House of Lords as the mitred abbot of Holm.
The Parish Church is noted for the fine alabaster tomb of Sir William Paston who died in 1608, the magnificent 15th century font cover and the remains of the beautiful painted medieval screen.
The Paston School, adjacent to the Market Place, was founded by Sir William Paston in 1606, its most famous scholar being Horatio Nelson. Details of this famous school may be found in the section of this guide dealing with education.
During the period of the growth of non-conformity, particularly strong in East Anglia, the Congregational Chapel was founded at Bradfield in 1656, the Baptists at Meeting Hill in 1717 and the Quakers Meeting House on Mundesley Road at Swafield. Members of the Quaker community suffered great persecution for many years as records bear witness.
In the 17th century troubles with the Dutch, the town was a key point for troops for coastal defence and similarly in the Napoleonic Wars. In both the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 wars North Walsham played a strategic part in the defence of the coast.
The proximity of the town to the coast made it a natural centre for smuggling and many a cargo of brandy, tobacco and tea found its way from Bacton, Happisburgh or Trimingham to the town for onward routing as well as local consumption.
The fact that North Walsham was a regional centre was recognised by Mr. D. Fisher, who opened a new theatre in May 1829 at a cost of £1,800. This theatre c'osed in 1845 and was sold for £400 for use as a National School, opened in 1846. This building is now the Church Rooms, having been released when the new school in Manor Road was opened in 1873. Apart from the theatre the town had its fair share of cockfighting, prize fighting and steeple chasing, all of which appear frequently in the 18th and early 19th century records.
The 19th century saw vast improvements everywhere in communications and the journey to Norwich was shortened by the Turnpike opened in 1790. The North Walsham-Dilham Canal was formally opened in August 1826, though laden wherries with flags flying had sailed from Wayford Bridge to Cubitt's Mill in North Walsham, the previous June.
This Canal was a great boon to the region until the coming of the railways provided competition which the waterborne traffic could not meet and gradually the Canal fell into disuse. There is much local interest in the possibility of this waterway being re-opened, at least in part.
The East Norfolk Railway from Norwich to North Walsham was opened in 1874 and the extension of the Yarmouth and North Norfolk Railway from Stalham to North Walsham was opened for passenger traffic in June 1881. This line was extended to Mundesley in 1898. Thus the coming of the railways gave North Walsham two stations, almost side by side.
Improved communications, here as elsewhere, brought many changes to the town, among them that much of the cattle went to the larger centres such as Norwich and the need for the many taverns and inns disappeared.
The post-war development of North Walsham has been considerable, new industries have come to the town and new housing has kept pace with its growth.
Development has been carefully undertaken so that the town presents the picture of a pleasant residential centre, yet keeping pace with the changing times and demands of the nineteen seventies.