Origins of Norwich (3000 BC - 1435 AD)

[@rhmendelson]

Loved this!! Learning how geography, natural resources, and trade routes shaped towns is more relevant to understanding history than the name and dates of rulers. I’ll be watching more of your videos, thanks for producing:)

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I love this comment. You've perfectly encapsulated what my channel is all about. I've always been more interested in how things came together to make a city, rather than enjoying the city how it has survived in the modern day. Learning about the geography, trade, natural resources, industry, and the indigenous local population can help people understand the origins of cities much better

[@lorraineward8834]

WoW What a fantastic explanation Alex & i feel the same way - i did a Local History Course at City College Norwich in the 1990s & it was such an Eye Opener because Norwich really does have A DARK SIDE 👻👻👻

[@lorraineward8834]

💛💛💛 Thanks for sharing

[@butnooneshome]

Couldn’t agree more. History shouldn’t be about ‘When’, it’s all about ‘Why’.

[@ritasouthernwood7351]

Nice to hear the Norfolk accent creeping in now & again ! Be proud of it...its lovely ! Love your passion for our wonderful county too. Well done ! Thankyou

[@pameliarabbit]

This was just fantastic to watch Alex. Have lived in Norwich for over 50 years and although I knew some of it., was blown away by what I found out. ‘Arminghall Henge ......who knew?’ I think it is so terribly sad that we don’t take far more care of what’s left of our City Wall. It should be carefully preserved and protected by some kind of structure where possible, especially along Chapperfield! Anyway. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video. I think all local school children should watch it and I shall be sharing it with all my family and friends I love Norwich City am am proud to live here 👍🏻

[@ikarus_incarnate]

The fact is, as much of th city wall that can be preserved safely has already been preserved as safely as it can be.... it was ruins for a long time with lots of the masonry being reused within other buildings in the city....

[@msquared6695]

I’ve just visited Chester and found the city wall and it’s towers fascinating

[@rada4me]

What a lovely young man. Passionate about history and his city of Norfolk. Extremely well done

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

That's very kind of you, thank you 😁

[@lindakay9552]

I have listened to dozens of videos trying to learn about Norwich, and I'm always left with more questions than answers. I can clearly tell you love your home. Thank you for this video. I have two separate lines of ancestors who emigrated, from Norwich to America, at separate times. One in 1632. And one in 1680. This makes Norwich come alive for the first time!!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! That's exactly the kind of feedback which makes me continue creating videos 😊 if you have any specific questions about Norwich, I shall try to answer them! And nice to hear about your ancestors, I always recommend that people research their ancestry because you'll be surprised at what you could find!

[@ikarus_incarnate]

where did they migrate to? I had relatives that migrated at around the same times but MY part of the family remained.... maybe we are related????

[@geemonster9179]

I live in Norwich

[@lindakay9552]

@@ikarus_incarnate My First English ancestors appear to have landed in Connecticut. My 9th great grandfather was a founder of the town of Northwich in Connecticut. I'm related to half of the first proprietors of that town.

[@CBuxton-EX.HKt.D]

@@lindakay9552 my gt gt grandfather was one of the famous Bankers Gurneys ,now known as Barclays Bank, and the pilgrim fathers came from a place named Hingham in Norfolk .I love the county’s long history.

[@junctionfilms6348]

The map at the start with 'Ely' was confoosin bor, given that in them days, pre 1800s even, that were a big ol inland sea, with Ely as an Island of course, the largest of nine - Cambridge virtually a seaside town, same for Downham in the east and Peterborough in the west . . .. would be amazing were it still there ! Norfolk and Suffolk are really a peninsuala - had it remained, the regional identiy would be even more unique and strong, probably, with an amazing natural wonder of the Fen sea

[@patriciayohn6136]

Fascinating, my late Husband and I visited Norwich in 1999 and absolutely loved it. We took many photos and had a lovely lunch at the Bell Hotel, for two reasons, my maiden name is Bell and just a few weeks before we traveled there I had watched a TV show that featured the Bell Hotel because of it's haunted history. Actually the real reason for traveling to Norfolk was to go to Lotus Cars in Hethel for a driving school experience on the Lotus factory test track. Our entire trip was more than worth every penny!

[@CBuxton-EX.HKt.D]

Glad you like my home city , you probably have played on a fruit machine in you life ,,well some of the first ones where made by a company named Bell fruit lol , and the name came from the Bell hotel ,in the heyday it had several fruit machines in side the pub.

[@paganteabreak7245]

I live in Manchester area now, but Norfolk born and bred... It’s refreshing to see and hear a great video by a local with passion for the area 👍🏻 Keep yew a trosh’n bor 😉

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Much appreciated 😁

[@zeddeka]

Interestingly, a lot of people from Manchester are of Norfolk Stock. During the industrial revolution, a huge number of people moved from Norfolk to Manchester, which was essentially a new town.

[@juneroberts5305]

Firstly - lovely bit of history about a place I know precious little about. Secondly - please ignore the snarky comments and take the polite criticism in the way it was intended. Thirdly - people complaining about your accent... Nothing wrong with it. Boggles my mind that some people can not understand you. Lazy listeners, probably. 😉 Glad I found your channel. 😀

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha much appreciated, and no worries, I think the main issue was with the audio which I am happy to hear about as I am still learning how to edit and i have since amended it for my more recent videos now. And Ive heard mostly positive things about my accent so I don't mind peoples comments at all 😊

[@connoroleary591]

Really interesting video. You are a good communicator, I usually get annoyed by a narrator's ego, you strike a nice balance and come across well and with a very pleasant Norfolk accent too!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks that means a lot, i feel my narration is still a bit too monotone and dull but im still in the process of figuring out my personal technique, just takes time to improve 😁 and yes, 100% born and raised Norfolk local haha

[@davidcadman4468]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy So now I can look to you for what my Mom's family sounded like. She's from Grt Yarmouth. :D Keep up the good work, you are not as monotone as you think. Expat Brit in Canada.

[@margaretr5701]

@@davidcadman4468 same here😊 From beautiful Norwich, now living in Canada.

[@soniablaney9462]

really enjoyed this ! I grew up in Norfolk - now living in France. Lovely soft norfolk accent :-)

[@jaksongpg]

Went to Bungay with my mate years ago - 1974. Went in to a church, crept up some stairs and ran out again terrified because we felt some kind of presence which we thought might have been the Black Dog of Bungay.

[@trevorfuller1078]

Had you been drinking?!!

[@jaksongpg]

@@trevorfuller1078 wish I had - wouldn't have been afraid

[@chrismay5349]

I attended uni of fine arts back in 2016 when I left the fine city of Norwich. And now live overseas. It really is a fascinating city. I loved my 3 years of my time there. This historic view on Norfolk and Norwich itself was a further great insight. Especially the cloisters at the Norwich uni of fine arts. Thanks for a great video.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Norfolk is definitely a beautiful place to be. Glad you learned something new!

[@bfjrgklhrghrgkjropjr]

Hello, I am from Norwich but I've lived in Korea for almost 2 years. I was feeling a little homesick when I found your video. Hearing your true Norwich accent has filled me with so much joy. I've also learnt a lot about my home city. Thank you so much Alex

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! That's so nice to hear, I'm glad I could provide you with a little bit of home :)

[@DJWerkz]

Excellent, I was born in Norwich in 1967 but now live in Texas. So good to see my old city. One omission worthy of note; it was always a bragging point that Norwich could boast two cathedrals with the second being the Cathedral of John the Baptist at the top of Grapes Hill 😉

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you enjoyed, nice to see so many of my subscribers saying they grew up in Norwich but now live all over the world. And true, but as this video was only taking into consideration up to the medieval period and the Catholic cathedral is Victorian, I didn't want to confuse people by mentioning the second cathedral in this video haha

[@DJWerkz]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy with a culture based on a pub for every day of the year I don't think being worried about your viewers being confused is necessary lol

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha lovely stuff

[@cat-a-tonic150]

I believe that's Saint John the Baptist Catholic Cathedral around the 1 minute mark. In the 70s, I used to go to Evensong at the Anglican Cathedral, then attend the Saturday evening Mass at Saint John's.

[@akz4634]

Amazing bro I live near grapes hill!

[@antonchristian873]

Great stuff Alex ! I was an art student in Norwich in the late 70s, and regard Norwich as my 'spiritual home' keep up the great work !

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Many more Norwich videos coming out soon!

[@chriscoats262]

Just stumbled upon your channel while looking at ancient british civilisation videos and I live in Norwich so this peaked my interest. I knew you were from Naaarrich as soon as I heard you say 'Hoomins'. :D I feel like this video should be played in the Castle Museum. Maybe near the Boudica part. :)

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha thank you! Well this is a very old video of mine and I've made much better videos since. I have a whole playlist dedicated to Norwich and Norfolk so feel free to check that out:)

[@michaelhunt4445]

Was getting interested but the music is too loud

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Apologies, still learning how to edit videos, my Norwich Cathedral video has quieter music

[@terencemichaels]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Why not just dump it? Your material stands up on it's own; the "music" merely distracts and detracts. Otherwise great!

[@HalfdeadRider]

Didn't bother me!

[@Metta33]

I like the music

[@Britbec]

I’m a Poringland girl….and this is the most education I’ve ever received about Arminghall! Thank you!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Much appreciated - I grew up in Poringland, near Cawstons Meadow. Good times!

[@Britbec]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Wow! Small world! I was off Rectory Lane, just a stones throw!

[@chrisjones2307]

Didn’t realise there is so many hill forts around here, nice one Alex I’ve got some more exploring to do👍

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

You'd be surprised! There's also many Celtic and Saxon barrows around Norfolk but they are mostly on private land :(

[@stringybarkin]

Thanks for this history, my ancestors are from Norfolk Anglo Saxon blood, last name is Terrington!! Sent to Australia for 14 years hard labour in 1836

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayyy lovely stuff, glad to see someone who researches their ancestry. I'd encourage everyone to look into their family history, truly fascinating

[@peiperpanzer]

My fiance was born in Norwich. She lives in Arizona now. We watched your wonderful video, and feel we know Norwich all the better now. Thank you!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! I have received quite a lot of comments from viewers who have lived in Norwich and are now living in America 😊😊😊

[@hannahk1129]

Enjoyed this video very much. My mother was born in Norwich 1940 & left for America in 1960. She passed in 89 and had told her kids stories of life there. Your video is treasure. Thank you❤️

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It's always lovely to hear from people all over the world who have roots in Norwich, very charming!

[@tamaracarter1836]

Great video! I absolutely love exploring Norwich.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

So much to see!

[@ikarus_incarnate]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy absolutely!!

[@MarkByrne1965]

Brilliant and very interesting presentation. Knew nothing of Norwich’s history until now. Very enjoyable, thank you 👍😍

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks, I really appreciate that 😊😊

[@JohnnyRebKy]

I’d love to visit for a week. I would be totally lost though. Not sure I can wrap my head around driving on the left side of the road lol 😂. I’d need a tour guide for sure and maybe a translator. My southern accent would be quite the spectacle in England. I’m from the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky Anyhow great video and great work, sir !! Loved it 😊

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well I'd happily give you a tour of my wonderful city if you're around! Oh, and the left hand side is the correct side to drive! 😆😆😊

[@netcalibur]

Why on earth would anyone dislike a such video? I've watched it twice, so much info to take in. Well done, mate, your voice is made for this. New subscriber here, you deserve more.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! Much appreciated, it's a rather early video so the editing and sound isn't too great but getting there!

[@roddycampbell3414]

We lived in Norwich between 1955-1957, when my dad was in the Army (USA), had several close up pictures of the house and mom said it used to be a monastery before Henry 8th dissolved them.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Very interesting where abouts was this house?

[@roddycampbell3414]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy not sure I was still a toddler when we left for Germany, mom would sometimes say Monastery or Nunnery in the same sentence.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Hmm well Norwich was known as a heavily reglious-orientated area, we had many churches, abbeys, friaries, priories, and a cathedral. It could have been near one of the three main friaries. Either Greyfriars, Whitefriars, or Blackfriars

[@paulhunt3238]

Was you dad based at raf sculthorpe ?

[@roddycampbell3414]

@@paulhunt3238 not sure.

[@carlahodgson8514]

Very interesting. Look forward to the other talks.

[@Limabelasun]

A fantastic video production. My family from Germany settled in Norfolk in the late 17oos. married int local families. Lived around and worked hunstanton, docking, ringstead, bagthorp. Graves still at Ringstead. gradually moving south over time in to London by the 1900s.. I later spent many years back and forward and living in Buxton/Lammas, so Norwich was my local town. Loved it there, but never enough time to fully explore as much as I wanted too. The castle has a very deep spiral stair, taking you to the Norfolk Regiments museum in the dungeons at the base of the Mot. Through a door and your out in the main street & traffic. A few vague memories from The Festival House!!!!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! Well you will have to visit Norwich again soon, the castle is currently being redecorated to look like how it did in the 12th century as a Norman Palace - will definitely be worth the visit!

[@ExploringWithEmAndStu]

Absolutely fascinating indepth history of my local County.. I didn't even realise we had so many hill forts.. Living around the Great Yarmouth area I'm lucky to have both Caister fort and Burgh Castle (pronounced Borough) on my doorstep. Great Video, I look forward to watching more.. 😊👍

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy I'm glad you enjoyed! I am very much a fan of our local history. I have plenty of Norfolk videos to watch and plenty more to make in the future!

[@THINKincessantly]

0:27 any idea what year this map is? Lincoln was huge!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Oof I have no idea unfortunately, the video itself is rather old so I can't remember where I got these images from hah

[@mozdickson]

Thanks for this Alex. Planning to walk the Peddars Way this year, and will then head towards Norwich. This is a fantastic summary of the historical panorama, and chimes with my prior learning around this topic.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ah that's lovely to hear - I know all the best historic sites around East Anglia so if you need any tips, send me a DM on IG :)

[@kaneleverington4801]

Awesome video video man! Looking forward to the next one 👌🏻 Keep up the good work!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayyy appreciate it Kane, gotta do something constructive during lockdown 😊

[@akz4634]

This is amazing !

[@paulthomas771]

Moved up to Norwich from London in 2019 and it was the best decision I ever made; sorry I didn't get out of the cramped, over-expensive, knife-crime infested dung hole sooner. Norwich is a lovely city with a rich history, thankfully some of which has been preserved. I've read 'Norwich Through the Ages', an old book by James Wentworth Day, an interesting and quite humorously opinionated look back at Norwich. This video is a worthy addition to anyone's media library of Norwich research; the surrounding pre-Norwich context was particularly appreciated.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you 😊 much appreciated. And yes I am not a fan of London either. I go there for the museums only.

[@someernie6179]

Me neither, not a fan of London at all, greetings from Hong Kong 😊

[@samuelgarrod8327]

Definitely less knife crime here but still too much.

[@zeddeka]

Haha. You've been watching too much Alan partridge. You just repeated almost verbatim what he said from one of the episodes

[@paulthomas771]

@@zeddeka I have literally never seen any Alan Partridge episode, I'm just good at belly-aching.

[@sphinxtheeminx]

Never thought I'd spend a wet Thursday watching a film about Norwich - a place I've never been to, nor have the wish to see. Now, I don't have to feel guity about that as I am about to watch your viral tour of the catherdral. Lockdown, even in Tier 2, is a strange mistress. Great work, by the way :)

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha much appreciated, it's well worth the time to learn about hidden gems around Britain, or indeed the World! Might inspire future travels!

[@Analoguebubblebath89]

Should come visit. Its nice

[@sphinxtheeminx]

@@Analoguebubblebath89 I am sure it is nice, Mr Thom; Alex's lovely films have persuaded me to add visiting Norwich to my bucket list. Happy New Year to all in that beautiful city.

[@Analoguebubblebath89]

@@sphinxtheeminx cheers boss

[@ikarus_incarnate]

can't think why, as Alex has shown, Norwich is a very interesting city...

[@rivervalley1000]

Fascinating early history, especially spoken in a local accent.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Lived in Naaarfolk ol' my looooife!

[@neilfranklin5644]

Fastenaten endeed

[@zeddeka]

Outside of this period, but it's interesting how during the industrial revolution, large numbers of people in Norfolk left to go and live in Manchester and work in the new cotton industry. Manchester was essentially a new town then, and a lot of Mancunians are the descendents of people who moved from Norwich and the surrounding areas.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ah very interesting, I may be doing an Origins of Manchester eventually since I'm sure I'll do all the major cities at some point. I rarely bother researching history after the medieval period as it doesn't interesting me too much haha

[@damienconnor2370]

Thankyou for this enlightening film.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

A pleasure! I have many more videos about Norfolks historical sites too :)

[@silasspeaks3301]

I am Scottish and I love your channel. Highly informative presentations on all things medieval. Exemplary work, mate.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

This is such a nice comment, thank you so much :)

[@heatheralderman7144]

This is great stuff even though I have no connection with Norfolk or Norwich. I particularly love the medieval music throughout...makes such a difference to the narrative. Thank you. X

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you 😊

[@trippydrew8492]

That Norfolk twang on a KZbin video is such a welcome sound!! Great video!!

[@trippydrew8492]

Also, I grew up like literally a 2 minute walk from Arminghall henge and Venta Icenorum!!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy very nice, and thank you. Of course this was a very early video I made so feel free to check out my Norwich & Norfolk playlist for more! I'm also working on a "origins of Great Yarmouth" video!

[@trippydrew8492]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy I will check it out for sure! I've already had my dad watch this one, we both love the history of our lovely little piece of the world!!

[@MsBonzodog]

What a great video. I moved to Norfolk ten years ago and live on the coast and love this area. Norwich is just half an hour away with its great museums, theatre as and shops. Where is the photo at 11:02 taken please?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

That would just be a stock photo of an English field haha, this was before I started personally visiting every site I mention in videos to take my own photography and video

[@MsBonzodog]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy such a pity. I was hoping you were going to say it was from somewhere in ‘Constable Country’. :)

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

You'll be happy to know that all my new videos include 100% my own photography unless credited otherwise in the video ☺️

[@vickywitton1008]

Great video and I love your Norfolk accent!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! 😃 I certainly get mixed comments on my Norfolk accent haha

[@CBuxton-EX.HKt.D]

I Was born in the city , amazing History , My dad used to keep pigs on Kets Heights in the 1930s He used to tell me about the old Monks Ruins and how many a night feeding the pigs late he would see the shadows of monks walking down the path.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

That's actually really valuable information! I assume the ruins were St Leonard's Priory? It's pretty much all gone now so if he had any photos, maps, or stuff like that if the ruins then I'd love to see them!

[@CBuxton-EX.HKt.D]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy yes , I see last time I was up there not much left now of the Priory , but the land was owned by my dads relation and he gave the Site to The City in 1976. I dont think ive any pics of that part of the cIty, but plenty of stores about it.and the people who lived in the old city.

[@wendysuePNW]

Fantastic job! Really enjoyed the video!

[@ruthjohnson7911]

Enjoyed this video, thank you

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

A pleasure!

[@touchedbynature5445]

Absolutely Brilliant Presentation Alex, Very Informative And Interesting. Many Thanks For Sharing.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you, much appreciated:) this is a rather old video now so I will eventually be remaking a newer version.

[@Dstew57A]

This was outstanding.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it - have many more Norfolk/Norwich related videos on my channel if you'd like to watch them too ;)

[@jamesd9337]

Brilliant video. My home town. After playing AC valhalla and loving the fact that old Nortwic has a place in the game I realised I didn't know a great deal about my iconic City. So here I am

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad to hear! Oh wow I've never played that game glad to see Norwich getting some love 🥰 I hope you've learned more than enough about beautiful Norwich from my video 😊

[@jamesd9337]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy looking forward to the castle reopening after work is done. Usually take the kids once a year and they love it. Recently learned that fashion was big here 100s of years ago and came from around the world and then expanded into the rest of England. If you're into gaming then pick up Assins Creed Valhalla. You will love it I'm sure.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Norwich is famous for many things haha. And yeah I've had a lot of friends recommend Valhalla to me, unfortunately I'm in the British army so I rarely get any time for games

[@jamesd9337]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy I wanted to join the army when I left school but I'm diabetic. Thankyou for your service. 🎩

[@christopherscot3785]

What is the music for your intro background?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It is called "The Medieval Banquet" the link is in the video description as "Medieval Music 1", it's also on KZbin Studio Audio Library :)

[@DANIEL99062]

A very nice place , Norwich ,one of the Best !

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It is indeed!

[@davidreed6817]

Great stuff, as a proud Norfolk man and a resident of Norwich (I was born and bred in Kings Lynn, another town with a fascinating history) until I moved to Norwich in 2007, love Norwich, love Norfolk.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Yes I've been collecting some footage around Kings Lynn. I need to revisit since I keep learning about more places nearby. If I can find enough details I may make it part of my "Origins of Cities" series

[@michellebruce5092]

Great history I enjoyed it. Have you ever done Fyvie castle in Scotland. There's lots of great mystery and historical sites to see. It's haunted also. By the green lady. Have a great day greetings from Canada 😀

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks! And no I haven't, but you're the second person to recommend Fyvie castle recently so I may have to take a trip up there 🤔 Scotland is a bit tricky for me because I live in the southern half of Britain and I use train travel to visit most of these places

[@lilbird4198]

Thank You for this most informative and interesting video. This Canadian really enjoyed it. 😊

[@tomaszsadowski1515]

What year is the map at the beginning of the podcast from?

[@Diane2403]

Thank you so much, that was very interesting. Fascinating history, I intend to explore. x

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@matthewtoro412]

Really good stuff mate! I'm also from Norwich so found it really interesting. like and subbed

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayy glad to hear, Norwich & Norfolk is a beautiful place

[@matthewtoro412]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy It truly is!

[@Winterfell1066]

Got it. I realized I had watched it a year or so ago and made the same comment. I do like the video though. I have been to England 4 times in the last 7 years, but never made it to Norwich. I will next time. Best wishes.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you :) yeah England definitely has too many things to see in one visit!

[@janejohnstone5795]

Interesting video...very informative...you sound like a local Norfolk..lad by your accent ..very country....interesting...

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@ikarus_incarnate]

Thanks for sharing Alex, I am a Norwich boy, but now living near Exeter in Devon, (Another very historic city, and well worth a visit by the way). It was interesting to see your video. looking forward to watching the one about the cathedral ( Anglican ) Keep 'em coming! Anything history-wise you can bring up about Billy Bluelight would be great!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you, that means a lot 😊 I need to revisit Exeter at some point!

[@LunaRose1312]

Great video, some of the information I know as I'm local but some I didn't, brilliant stuff

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Plenty more coming!

[@history-addicts]

great video, subscribed!

[@Arthurnate]

Glad I subbed to you. Thank you for this fascinating little documentary.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! Much appreciated. Lots more history coming soon

[@keithdavison5578]

Hi Alex what a fantastic and interesting story and video. I must admit that I didn't know much about the city of Norwich, I'm an old bungay boy [ Suffolk ]now I will look out for more of your stories and vids . Fantastic and thank you, we don't hear enough of that lovely norfolk accent 😊😊

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it and learned some fun local history ☺️

I loved this! Excellent, thankyou, this was history,A1 well explained, again,nice thankyou 👍

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@TheLeonhamm]

A good job. The shift from Roman - to Romano-British - to Anglo-Briton, though traumatic, was probably a bit less disruptive than present in most histories. The average British farmers (pre-Roman type) did not up-sticks and move into villas, they were as tied to the land (where available) as they are today. The wealthy landowners and the under-class labourers would have had much more invested in the ways of Roman rule, and it was these that felt disenfranchised enough to leave .. when the Saxons started to throw their weight about - they had been invited in to defend the hyper-wealthy local governors, businessmen and civil servants (bereft of the imperial army that the British Roman emperor took with him into Gaul, the imperial armies were already largely composed of non-Romans or borderland adventurers). The Romano-Briton, Romano-Gaul, Romano-Goth, and Romano-Frank would, therefore, have been more or less interchangeable .. yes, even in their various forms of paganism (Country Tale-tellers) and Christianity (City Historians); the Saxons were much less Romanised than their neighbours, as were the Vandals and Huns .. though they appreciated the goods and fancy wares available from 'Rome' .. but their leaders (often in contact with the Romans, not least via military service, or the slave trade) were more in rational awe and less in superstitious fear of Romanitas. The Anglo-Britan went on farming, for his family, their neighbours, big-boss-men and traders. It was the shift to Anglo-Roman and Welsh-Roman that may well have made the biggest discernible change - both more or less a mix of pagans and Christians, tell-tellers and historians but with rather different perspectives on 'Rome' (whether Constantiniopolitican businessmen or Roman monks); but even there, the Romanitas of the upper-crust, soldiers, and traders would not have seemed too much out of place in Tours, Aix, St Albans, Chester, Trier, Cologne, et al. So, not as nice and neat in chaos as it seems.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thanks! Late Roman history in Britain always fascinates me, there seems to be a lull in historical content between after the majority of the Roman military left Britain and when the Saxons first settled, which i suppose adds to the mystery and the mythology of King Arthur 😁 I'm glad you said 'Anglo Roman' too because after i made the video i was thinking 'hang on, Anglo means Angle - the raiders from around dark age Germany/Denmark, so the correct name would be Romano-Britannic from the Breton tribes who were based in modern-day Brittany and West Britain.' - but i suppose thats a small mistake 😁

[@quiverdog]

Born and Bred in Norwich, lived on the coast in Norfolk (Cromer) This is the first ive heard of arminington Hall hedge

[@stevieneilson2451]

Good vid 👌 👍🏻 been to Norwich a couple of times with work. A time capsule ❤

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It is indeed :)

[@YouKnowN0thing]

I would trade my immortal soul, to travel back in history, to live & experience life then.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

You & I both. Assuming i had a bit of money in my medieval life so it would be a comfortable one haha

[@thee_undertaker]

And many of them would have done the same to live somewhere else.

[@YouKnowN0thing]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Right.. Being slave-born, or a conquered slave, wouldn't have been so ideal.

[@heatherjones4034]

Lovely job. Good to hear you -such memories.

[@teoarmes9413]

I was born in Norwich in 1845 and it has changed beyond recognition since then.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

1845? 🤔

[@tomlaughton6805]

Great video!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Much appreciated!

[@tomlaughton6805]

I'm heading there this weekend so this has given me some stuff to look out for I was unaware of before

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Very nice, what places weren't you previously aware of? If you're planning any trips around Norfolk I'm sure i can tell you of some very interesting nearby ruins

[@tomlaughton6805]

I never knew of the hill fort mentioned in the video, so I'm going to check that out. Id love to hear of any ruins in the area. I've been to the Roman site a caister on sea and the lager one which I forget the name of.

[@anenigmawrapped]

Can you post version without the music?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

On the Norwich & Norfolk playlist, I re-made this video with lowered music and better quality audio, hope you enjoy :)

[@glynluff2595]

On the matter of Tasburgh hill fort I presume you mean the one near the cross road between Hempnall Road and the Ipswich road. In the 1980’s this was partially infilled with rubbish altering the landscape ditch. On Burgh Castle I am surprised you call it Bure as that is a north Broads river. I like your reference to Arminghall as in my lifetime few have known of it. The name of Nor wic was given to Norwich as the local mint was in Nor Wic which gained dominance locally. The people might have been religiously inclined but they had one of the worst riot records in England up to the 20th century.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Hi guys! If you enjoyed this video, feel free to check out my video all about the history of Norwich Cathedral, along with a virtual tour! kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3myopmVg6iNfJY

[@junctionfilms6348]

Ol bor, sumfin hint roight: Surely: Anglia was an Angles Land, not Saxon ! The Angles were from what is now Southern Denmark and the coast of Germany. There is still a tidal lowland peninsula called 'Anglia' in Germany. Saxony is further south. Also, the roots of the language was different to Saxon. eg: Saxons generally said: "Ic sind' ( I am ) closer to modern German, as sind is modern German today - and Angles said: "Ih aerau ( more or less phonetically, meaning: I am, or literally, I are ) The Angles in Britain become diverged over time, in northern Angles and also the Mercian Angles, the East Angles maintained the name and hence, Anglia gave rise to the embryonic England. Anglia is still the name for England in many Slavic languages and others in Europe. The helmet shown in that segment is an Iceni Celt Britannic helmet. Nice video but I think it needs a big edit , mind how you go ! :-)

[@lyrastarseed5895]

❤

[@kingsleylangston1959]

i know Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know a method to log back into an instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the account password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me!

[@graysonfernando8272]

@Kingsley Langston instablaster ;)

[@kingsleylangston1959]

@Grayson Fernando i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@13thearl]

Really enjoyed this and learned something new - always good at my age.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Never too old to learn something new ☺️

[@DavidStansfield-xs8ch]

I don’t have ch1 before swr I have s11 how do I change it

[@R08Tam]

Fascinating stuff, thanks for the upload

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ta!

[@tonyterror4091]

That video was brilliant...

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

😁

[@SuperQuoll]

Really enjoyed the video and the accent! I'm an East Anglian (Cambridge) living in Australia and I do miss it all so much. My birth village was totally wiped out by the Vikings except for one chap who hid in the church tower (according to legend!)

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ahh glad you enjoyed! Ah yes the Vikings certainly did do a number on the Saxon villages haha

[@killercd7682]

Great thanks!

[@colinhazell2544]

Very good!

[@loonylinda]

loved that..now going to watch the vid of the cathedral

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Glad to hear it, thank you 🥰

[@dublinius]

Since when has Thetford been in Suffolk??

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha im sorry i got confused with Thetford's IP postcode, i did correct myself in the video description!

[@allancrotch2953]

since it was in suffolk

[@doloresl.2150]

My grandmother ancestors were sent from Norwich to Sydney as convicts in 1809. A mother and her two daughters, married off the ship . Her other four children remained in Norwich.

[@karenbartlett1307]

I'm American but my father's family originated in Norfolk, they were from the village of Honing. Their names were William and Margaret Marler. They were married in Norwich. William and one of his sons died in the same year, 1749, then a surviving son, Henry Marler, immigrated to America via Scotland. He left his mother and other siblings behind. I'm wondering if they were Jacobites. (Catholics, who would have been suspected Jacobites, at that time in England were forbidden to own guns or horses. I don't know if they were Catholic, though. St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Honing is Church of England. ) Do you know anything about the history of Norfolk in 1749 or thereabouts? All of the Marlers I've heard of are related to me, and they are all blonde with blue eyes. I suspect they were Angles. Do you know anybody named Marler in Norwich? Btw, your accent is very understandable and sounds nice, like, well, no accent at all to me, although of course English.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Very interesting! Unfortunately my preferred period of history is up until the 16th century so i dont know much about Norwich after that period. I do know that much of the medieval city walls of Norwich were demolished to allow the city to expand in the 17th and 18th century though.

[@karenbartlett1307]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Ok, thanks.

[@lilalex1999]

Hi I have knowledge on Angles back in 1200s if this is helpful to you?

[@karenbartlett1307]

@@lilalex1999 Yes, thank you! If you link any articles I'll be happy to read them!

[@rosieHolliday5887]

This was really good. I've never been to Norwich or Norfolk. I think I might be missing out on a real treat. Planning on visiting here in the summer. So this was really helpful to see what is in the area. We love history! Thank you for sharing this x

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well I certainly hope you spend some time here and check out the history! The Norfolk broads are also a national beauty spot

[@rosieHolliday5887]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Thank you. I've been doing some reading already about visiting. I can't wait!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

If you need any information, don't hesitate to message me on IG :)

[@Yelluz]

There's noo place like hum. Great video!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayyy that's the truth fellow Canary 😆😆

[@Yelluz]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy OTBC 🔰

[@philipdavey9182]

In the context of this video, are we happy with the inclusion of the RC cathedral, on which building started in the late 1800’s and went into the very early 1900’s? Amazing building of course, and quite architecturally notable, but in England, would it be considered old? I think not.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Tbh this was one of my first ever videos and I'd quite like to redo this with the bountiful collection of footage I now have. I appreciate that I say Norwich today has 2 cathedrals when the video is all about the beginnings of the city so it doesn't quite make sense haha. Hopefully you'll watch my newer videos and see that my accuracy and story telling is a bit more professional 😆

[@angelicab3233]

Are the four columns the spiralled ones in the nave? Thank you for a great video!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

They are indeed!

[@angelicab3233]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy Great! I have wondered why they are different. I’m from Sweden but my husband is from Norwich and we have just moved back here after many years in Sweden. We have always spent a lot of time in Norwich visiting family. I have always loved walking around both the castle and the cathedral. Can’t wait for the castle rebuild to be ready and to be able to see the original great hall setup. I will have a look at your other videos about Norfolk!

[@brianbradford6570]

“Cor blarst me”you are definitely a Norfolk bou “keep a troshing “ nice job on the video, Norwich boy born and raised here.👍

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I have never been so aware of my norfolk boy accent since starting to record my own voice 😂

[@brianbradford6570]

Alex The History Guy i only notice mine in the same way when I record my voice, i live in the states now and every once in a while my accent comes out. Keep a troshing👍

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well if there's any parts of Norfolk's history that you'd like a video about, let me know! I check all comments

[@jamesd9630]

There was always talk of there being a hill fort at beacon hill in Colkirk, Norfolk, it would have made sense as it can see over the valley to Fakenham to the north. Well, that was always the story being told when I was growing up in Colkirk in the 1970s.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

For how much East Anglia was inhabited all throughout the neolithic age to iron age, I wouldn't be surprised if there were hundreds of hill forts that have simply been ploughed over the centuries

[@loonylinda]

that was excellent!..although in places the music overrode the narration as it was too loud.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Sorry about that - I uploaded an improved video with better audio and lowered background music. It's on my Norwich & Norfolk playlist

[@dopapier]

Nice gentle Norfolk accent. I hadn’t realised how much it misses the internal ‘t’ se’lement, be’er, Bri’ain, po’ery, cover’ed. Fun!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha yes I often get told about my thick Norfolk accent. Just makes the video more authentic!

[@lemorab1]

I wish you would add graphics to your narrative. I would love to see an artist's drawings of the development of Norwich over the centuries, and what walled, Medieval Norwich, with gatehouses, looked like. I know this adds hours onto the making of the videos, but this would be a great enhancement. This was really interesting. Thank you!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Hi there! It's funny you say that - this was one of my first ever videos on KZbin so my editing skills were very poor! Since then, I have been collecting many pieces of artwork including depictions of Norwich from all different centuries. I even have a few drawings of the gatehouses too. Expect a new video somewhat soon about that!

[@AmbientAnalogue]

I've lived in Norwich for the majority of my life, and i've never heard anyone have as strong as a Norfolk accent as you! haha interesting video on walls and old church building I walk past daily.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Well thanks! 😂 i didn't even realise that my norfolk accent was so strong, i guess you just dont notice when you're used to it

[@francessimmonds5784]

You call that a Norfolk accent! I could barely tell. You should here my mother in law and her family who lived in Norfolk for generations, being a southern girl I could barely make out what they were saying half the time, lol

[@stevielawrence2496]

That’s not a Norfolk accent, that a real Norwich accent! Big difference!!

[@donaldboughton8686]

Most of the inhabitants have lost their strong Norwich accents when compared with the Nineteen Fifties. I will admit to having a soft spot for Norwich even if the people do damn stupid things like electing a labour council. Three of my Grandparents were born there as was my late mother. Most of my cousins live there.

[@peterjameson321]

Thank you for this great video about the origins of Norwich Alex. It must have taken a great deal of effort and research on your part, and I found it most informative. Unfortunately the background music was intrusive and distracting for me though. Is there a possibility of your producing the same video and perhaps future videos without the music? That'd be great.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you! And I already did upload a newer version with better sound quality and lowered background music. It's on my Norwich & Norfolk playlist. And yes it took a very long time haha. Mostly an amalgamation from a decade of studying Norfolk's History added together in one video. I might make a newer version with much better video and sound quality.

[@peterjameson321]

Lovely! I'll check it out. I live in Norwich too so I'm particularly interested in its history. Thanks again for your hard work in this. Few realise just how much work goes into such things.

[@DubArchaeologist]

There is also Markshall Henge just beyond the Arminghall Carboot location. The two henges align with Chapel Hill behind which the winter solstice sun sets. There is yet another unnamed henge/hengiform monument that is very well preserved in the Tud Valley in a water meadow between Hellesdon and Costessy. The midsummer sun sets beyond Green Hill in Old Costessy. There's another ploughed out henge near Lenwade. [edit:typos]

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Indeed quite a few intriguing ancient sites covering the Tas Valley, so much left unexcavated and unresearched!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

You wouldn't happen to have a more accurate placement of the Costessey henge would you? Can't seem to find anything

[@DubArchaeologist]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy yeah, one sec and i will work out away to show you on here - there's a vid of it on my channel. it is listed on the Heritage Finder

[@DubArchaeologist]

Looks like YT removed my longitute/latitude comment? Here is the location on what 3 words: cape hype claps.

[@That1ne92]

I live in Poringland couple hundred metres away frm arminghall wow didn’t know that

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I grew up in Poringland :) lived there for 18 years before moving into the city

[@That1ne92]

Alex The History Guy Yh I was there frm 2007 wbu

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

1997