Norwich Castle

Who

Ralph de Guader (c.1042 - c.1096)

In 1075 Ralph de Guader, Earl of Norfolk, led an uprising against William I. The king heard of this and laid siege to the castle, forcing Ralph abroad. Ralph's wife defended the castle for three months but was forced to surrender.

Louis, Dauphin (later VIII) of France (1187 - 1226)

After being ‘invited' to take the throne from the unpopular King John, Prince Louis, heir to the French throne, conquered much of England. He captured Norwich Castle in c.1216, but eventually returned to France.

Robert Kett (c.1492 - 1549)

In July 1549 Robert Kett, a yeoman farmer from Wymondham in Norfolk, led a huge citizen army to fight against enclosure of common land.

Kett laid siege to the City of Norwich and occupied the castle, using it to hold members of the gentry. After intense fighting, Kett and his men were finally defeated in August 1549.  

Kett was captured, and tried in London. He was brought back to Norwich where he was hung up in chains at the Castle. He was left to die and then rot as a warning to others.

Today Kett is celebrated. A plaque dedicated to him at the Castle, marks him out as a ‘courageous leader in the long struggle of the common people...into the freedom of just conditions'.