Official Guide to North Walsham 2023-2024

112 North Walsham Town Guide
for the two towns. More Flemish weavers
moved to the district at the invitation of Edward
III, and the town flourished at an incredible rate
until 1348 ... the coming of the ‘Black Death’.
‘Black Death’ and Peasant Unrest
The Bubonic Plague or ‘Black Death’ ravaged
England in 1348, and recurred in 1361 and 1369.
With it came the death of thousands, resulting
in a loss of labour needed to farm the land, and
work on Walsham’s incomplete church; the
original plans had to be altered, and simple
intersected window tracery was substituted for
the planned beautiful decorated tracery. With
the economy of the country in turmoil an Act
was passed in 1351 that no man should refuse
to work for the same rate of pay as before the
Black Death. Extra revenue was also generated
by the imposition of a Poll Tax on the people.
The arable fields were laid to pasture, and
common land was enclosed for sheep farming.
This was less labour intensive with more profit
being made from wool production. This caused
great unrest of the peasants, which led to the
famous ‘Peasants’ Revolt’ of 1381 when John
Litester, assisted by amongst others a man
called Cubitt of North Walsham, led a rebellion
of many thousands who seized the city of
Norwich, killing the mayor in the process.
Henry Despenser, Bishop of Norwich, and a
man with much experience of war abroad, was
able to raise enough forces to drive the rebels
from the city and they retreated to a camp at
Bryant’s Heath near North Walsham. Despite
the peasants’ elaborate makeshift barricades,
they were ousted from their camp by the
Bishop and his now numerous forces, and battle
commenced. Many hundreds were slain and
the defeated peasants fled towards the town
desperately seeking their right of ‘sanctuary’
in the church, however, it was still incomplete
and yet to be consecrated. The Bishop
followed, Litester was captured, and the church
witnessed a massacre of hundreds of peasants.
Despenser heard Litester’s confession, gave
him absolution and then had him dragged to
his public execution. Three stone crosses were
soon erected marking the site of the battlefield,
as a permanent reminder of the consequences
of such uprisings.
The Parish Church
It is probable that the incomplete church only
needed repair after the turmoil of the Peasants’
Revolt, and not complete re-building as local
legend states. In fact it was that same Bishop
Henry Despenser who consecrated the building
within twenty years of the battle. This is the
edifice seen today, the largest ‘Wool Church’
in Norfolk, built from the profits of the wool
and weaving industries. The church is noted
for its spacious interior, the lofty columns and
Wayside Cross monument on the Norwich Road. Photo by Les Edwards
Stump Cross monument on the Norwich Road. Photo by Les Edwards