In 1144 the body of a boy, William of Norwich, was found on the heath. The story was circulated that his death was the result of ritual murder carried out by Jews and he attained the status of saint and martyr. This was the first medieval example of blood libel against Jews. A number of bones of Jews were found in a well whilst Chapel Field Mall was being built. The remains of 17 victims of anti-Semitism were of men, women and children near the section in the area where Café Rouge is. The carbon dating fits the anti semetic attacks in 1144. The victims were thrown into the well whilst alive!
In 1549 Robert Kett, rebelling against agricultural hardships, led a large group of men who camped for six weeks on the heath before the uprising, known as Kett's Rebellion, was suppressed. Robert Kett's rebellion (an uprising in protest against landowners enclosing common land where farm labourers could graze their few animals). Kett's rebellion has inspired movements against oppression and inequality . Curiously the forced privatisation of state schools and turning them into academies is a form on enclosure. The land and buildings that belonged to the people is now in the hands of charitable institutions and other private enterprises! Kett would be rebelling against this if he were around to day! But his rebellion is famous and his last bastion was Mousehold Heath.
Mousehold was also painted by Norwich artists such as Cotman and Crome. Particularly interesting is their focus on the big East Anglian skies which I could include in my print productions as this location is being used in my music video.
Mousehold Heath was famously painted by a number of the Norwich school artists including John Crome and John Sell Cotman.
In his autobiographical work Lavengro George Borrow records his meetings with gypsies on the heath. The Norwich born novelist, and one time Lord Mayor, R. H. Mottram was another artist who valued the open space of Mousehold Heath. He once described it as "the property of those who have the privilege of Norwich birth".
Kett was sentenced for treason and for supporting the landless and the poor. He was hung in chains from the walls of Norwich castle and left to die of hunger and cold. His body was left hanging there for many months as a reminder to the people of Norwich of the fate that awaited traitors!
The Heath thankfully still belongs to the people of Norwich. This location will give our music video an iconic sense of Norwich City.
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| Painting of Mousehold by Cotman |
Painting of Mousehold by Crome









