Jermiah Ives of Colegate, north Norwich

Mayoral portrait of Jeremiah Ives, who is buried within St Clement's Church

An evocative excerpt from Parson Woodforde's Diary, shared by Magdalen Walks member, Keiran:

'After breakfast I got in my Curricle and drove to Norwich., we got there about Noon. And it being Guild day when the new Mayor is sworn in, there were great doings, the Court going in Procession to the great Church and from thence to the Guild-Hall, & then to St Andrews Hall to dinner. 

Old Mr Alderman Ives is the new Mayor, and it is the second Time of his succeeding to thst Office. Some of the old time doings exhibited to day such as he did the last Time if being Mayor- A fine & curious Triumphal Arch of green Box intersped with many Flowers & variegated Lamps hung in the Centre of the Arch, near Mr Ives's House and by St Clements Church near Fye Bridge. 

At the Mayors Door there was a similar Arch with three golden Crowns on it and the Prince of Wales's Feather in the middle, of Gold, with a continual Firing of Cannons & Guns. Flaggs flying throughout the Mayors Parish &c. A vast Number of People at Norwich to day indeed...'

Kieran Yates

Hidden Watercourses of Norwich

How many watercourses do you know that run through Norwich?

The river Wensum is the obvious answer.

But did you know its tributories run under modern city streets too?

Before city folk could culvert and cover these streams they shaped city life by dividing parcels of land, draining marshy areas and influencing where local people walked along. As a result some of these now hidden watercourses are reflected in the streets and alleyways that we walk along today. 

The Great Cockey ran from higher ground at All Saints Green and ran downwards towards Back of the Inns and towards the Wensum at the back of what is now Dukes Palace Wharf.  A shorter length of stream was also called the Little Cockey that led along Westwick Street towards the New Mills area. 

The Dalymond ran from Magpie Road towards Blackfriars Street and discharges in the Wensum near Fishergate. 

The Muspole ran unsurprisingly along Muspole Lane, Colegate and discharged near Fye Bridge.

The Dallingfleet was a shorter length of stream that ran from St Faiths Lane towards the river south of Pulls Ferry. 

As part of the current pedestrianisation of Westlegate a commemorate stone plaque will be installed to celebrate the city's secret watercourses, and a flowing shape will be part of the paving design to bring this reference to life again for modern day folk who probably didnt know what flows underneath their feet.

Kieran Yates

5th May 2016

For Magdalen Walks