The 'land' of Brandland: A Brief History of Norwich

In addition to our focus on Brands, we felt it also very important to shine a light on the ‘land’ of Brandland, the wonderful city of Norwich in Norfolk.

Norwich can trace its origins back as far as the Roman Conquest of the Iceni in the first century AD. With regards to its more recognisable format however, the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Norvic was established at the confluence of the River Wensum and River Yare in the mid-to-late sixth century AD. Developing into a town and later, a city over the following centuries, Norwich subsequently played host to settlers first from Denmark, and later the Normans by the eleventh century AD.

In medieval England, Norwich acted as the second city to London and, for a time, was one of the largest cities in the world by geographical area, rivalled only by Constantinople and Naples. During the reign of Tudor King Edward VI, a rebellion led by Norwich’s own Robert Kett in protest against land enclosures was quelled by royal forces. Despite this, Kett’s name has been immortalised in the city with Kett’s Hill proving to be one of the finest overlooks of Norwich one can visit. Whilst initially being pro-Royalist, Norwich would eventually follow suit with the majority of the East of England in being a hotbed for Parliamentarian support during the English Civil War.

Throughout the Middle Ages and The Renaissance, Norwich developed close cultural and economic ties with The Netherlands thanks to historical trading routes. When Dutch Protestants living in the then Spanish Netherlands faced violent persecution at the hands of the Catholic majority, many chose to flee and take refuge in Norwich. These settlers would come to receive the umbrella name of ‘Strangers’ which has since become an intrinsic core element of Norwich’s culture ever since, being a welcoming place for those from near and far alike. The ‘Strangers’ name can be found across the city from coffee shops to pubs.

Heading into the Modern Era Norwich has continued to forge its own path throughout the periods of industrialisation and commercialisation since the eighteenth century. As the largest city in East Anglia, Norwich became a vital hub for domestic trade, largely centred around agriculture and textiles given its rural surroundings. The Victorian period coincided with the continued flourishing of Norwich’s commercial scene with Start-rite, Colman’s Mustard, Norwich Union, and the Jarrold Group among many others bursting onto the national scene. 

From 1900 to the present day, Norwich cemented its status as a modern, inclusive, and forward-thinking city. With the University of East Anglia’s establishment in 1963 with its iconic Ziggurats and world-renowned Creative Writing Degree, Norwich added an impressive academic notch to its bow. The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts which opened in 1978 boasts one of the finest collections of arts and cultural artifacts in the region and the building itself was even used as Avengers’ HQ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A thriving cultural arts scene has also contributed to the rise of many of Norwich’s own into stardom, ranging from Stephen Fry to Olivia Coleman. And who can forget Alan Partridge!

The rich history of Norwich has directly contributed to the rise of its eclectic array of iconic brands which have been able to thrive thanks to the inclusivity, innovation, and internationality of the city. At Brandland, we are both proud of this wonderful heritage, and excited to participate in writing the next chapter in the story of Norwich.