Official Guide to North Walsham 2023-2024

52 North Walsham Town Guide
Peasants’ Revolt Walk & Monuments
The 14th century ‘perch’ cross
(perch=fluted) standing by Monument
Cottage on Norwich Road, is on what was
heathland to the south of North Walsham,
near the site where the “war-like” Bishop
of Norwich, Henry Despenser, put down
a Peasants’ Revolt led by the self-styled
‘King of Commons’, John or Geoffrey
Litester, a dyer from Felmingham.
The revolt was part of a general English
rising in protest against a new poll
tax, the cost of the wars in France and
attempts, by statute, to keep down the
wages of labourers after the Black Death (which had killed almost a third of the population) it was,
indeed, the breaking down of the unjust feudal system. During the rebellion, Litester’s men took
Norwich, whose inhabitants did not resist, and compelled
four knights to wait upon him at his table in Norwich Castle.
A fifth knight, who refused to follow him, was beheaded!
After Norwich the rebels also, briefly, took Yarmouth before
retreating to the heath near North Walsham to make their
stand behind barricades. The rebels were no match for the
trained soldiers of the Bishop. Some accounts suggest that
most were allowed to flee, others talk of a fierce battle with
many dead on the heath and remnants of the rebel forces,
driven from the unfinished parish church by fire and killed.
Whatever the truth, the ringleaders were made an example
of. Litester was captured; his Bishop, Henry Despenser, heard
his confession, gave him absolution for his sins and, whilst
Litester was being dragged to his place of execution, held
up his head to stop it bumping on the ground. Litester was
then hanged, drawn and quartered. Three quarters were
sent to Norwich,
Yarmouth and
Lynn, whilst the
fourth was exhibited outside his house in Felmingham
‘so that rebels, and those who rise against the peace, may
learn how it will end.’
The cross is one of three markers for the battle. A second
‘stump cross’ stands outside the gates of the North
Walsham Water Works, whilst the remains of the third are
on private land owned by Westwick Estate west of the
Norwich Road, near Westwick Woods.
The event is commemorated in the town by two roads
being named Spenser Avenue and Litester Close.