On this day 1549, after Wymondham’s annual feast weekend, rebels start protesting land enclosures, destroying hedges and fences. Follow the next 8 weeks, as we uncover what happened day-by-day, as our account has a Kett’s Rebellion takeover! #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

By now, protesters are led by one of their original landowning targets - Robert Kett, a yeoman farmer, and are being joined by people from other local towns and villages. The group meets at Kett’s Oak between Wymondham and Hethersett. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The rebels are joined by a crowd from Norwich. They have already refused to meet demands to disperse from the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk, when the Mayor of Norwich denies a route to Mousehold Heath via the city. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The group march north, across the River Wensum at Hellesdon, and camp at Drayton. Sir Roger Woodhouse meets them with beer and food, but the angry rebels capture him, spoil the provisions and steal his horse. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The rebels reach Mousehold Heath, a large area of open common land used by locals to collect wood and graze animals. Numbers at the camp would soon be estimated at 16,000 - 20,000 - more than the population of Norwich itself. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Once at Mousehold Heath, Kett establishes a council to administer the camp, obtain provisions and arms, issue warrants, and arrest members of the gentry. The council meets at the Oak of Reformation, believed to be near modern-day Rosary Cemetery. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

During this week, a relative truce is established between the rebel camp and city below, as Kett draws up a list of 29 demands. Covering enclosure and rural issues, they also include grievances about the clergy and power of the gentry. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s authority during this period of truce extends as far as having officers guarding the city gates, and Mayor Thomas Codd providing funds from the city treasury and signing the demands. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Feeding the rebels is an immense task. Across the course of the rebellion, Kett’s warrants obtain over 20,000 sheep and 3,000 cattle, with deer taken from parks. Supporters from North Elmham also send bread, beer, fish and onions. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

While the camp is at Mousehold Heath, Kett leads from his HQ in St Michael’s Chapel, originally built in recompense for demolishing a church in Tombland to build the cathedral. The area is remembered today as Kett’s Heights. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s prisoners are being housed in Mount Surrey, a great mansion built by the Earl of Surrey on the site of St Leonard's Priory near St Michael’s Chapel. Today, only some of the wall survives on St Leonard’s Road. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The King’s Herald enters the city. Offering a pardon to those who leave peacefully, Kett refuses and is named a traitor. Norwich shuts its gates and prepares for a rebel charge; threatened with no access to food, Kett’s artillery attacks. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Thousands of rebels charge from Mousehold, swimming across the River Wensum between Cow Tower and Bishops Gate. A truce is discussed but fails, and as the Herald flees, Kett captures the city. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The rebels run the city, arresting leaders including the Mayor Thomas Codd, former Mayor and several Aldermen. City residents fear for the Mayor’s life, and start complaining - Codd would be conditionally released within a few days. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Around this time, Kett’s rebels also make a surprise attack on Great Yarmouth, seizing two town bailiffs, although they manage to escape and warn the town to fortify against another attack. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

While Mayor Codd is no longer imprisoned, he seems confined to the rebel camp, and names Augustine Steward as Deputy Mayor. Several buildings remain from the time of Kett’s rebellion, including The Strangers Club on Elm Hill, which Steward built. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The Marquess of Northampton will shortly be on his way by order of the King to end the rebellion. Augustine Steward will greet him in a few days, and host a dinner at his house on Tombland, another building surviving to this day. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Another important figure in the efforts to defeat Kett will also be entertained in a Norwich home later on. This time by Henry Bacon - a cloth merchant and one of the city’s Sheriffs – who will host the Earl of Warwick at his house in Colegate. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

With the Marquess of Northampton and 1,500 men on their way to end the rebellion, Kett realises the city walls - the longest in the country – are too difficult to defend, so he withdraws to the camp on higher ground. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

On this day 1549, the Royal army enters the city and starts patrolling the streets. Kett's rebels wait for cover of night, and use their knowledge of Tombland’s street layouts to launch hit-and-run attacks. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Diverting attention with a surrender rumour, thousands of rebels enter the city. As the Royal army is under attack, Lord Sheffield falls from his horse and is killed. The Marquess of Northampton orders a retreat, and Kett retakes the city. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The fighting has damaged buildings, including The Great Hospital. Bishopgate was the site of Sheffield’s cavalry charge, and near where the rebels had entered the city. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

With the recent escalation of fighting, some local residents are hiding their valuables, including a hoard of silver groat and half-groat coins found near Wymondham, minted a few years earlier during the reign of Henry VIII. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett sends 100 men to Great Yarmouth to demand supplies and horses, but they are turned away by heavily armed resistance guarding the town in the surrounding countryside, and via a fleet of ships on the River Bure. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

With Kett continuing to hold Norwich, let’s look at some of his demands! Demand 1 asks to stop the enclosure of land - the exception made for growing saffron indicates the grievance is focused on grazing land rather than agriculture. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

As well as access to land, Kett’s demand 17 requires free use of rivers for fishing and transport routes, and demand 19 wants fishermen to keep all the profits from their catches. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s demand 3 protects common rights, as the lord of the manor shouldn’t use the common land. On the other hand, demands 10 and 23 specify that only knights and esquires should keep doves or rabbits. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s demands 5, 6 and 14 relate to rent control. Lords shouldn’t charge unreasonable rents, and rents for reed beds, meadows and marshes should be the same price as under Henry VII. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett again makes demands to Great Yarmouth for supplies – specifically beer – on the threat of imprisonment, but continues to be unsuccessful in getting the town to help his cause. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s demand 7 said that weights and measures should be consistent throughout the country – in particular, one bushel should weigh 8 gallons. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett's demand 20: all parsons and vicars earning over £10 should teach children to read and write. Education for poorer children had been supported for centuries - the Great Hospital had been training boys as choristers and priests since 1249. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s demand 8: parishioners should be able to choose new clergy if existing priests or vicars aren’t doing their job properly. At the time, Norwich had 58 churches - today Norfolk has the highest concentration of medieval churches in the world! #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s demands 16 and 24 concern personal liberty - that bondmen should be free, and that wards should have the right to choose their own marriages. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

After failed requests for help from Great Yarmouth, Kett’s rebels attack the town, but a defensive fire blows smoke in their eyes, and 30 men and artillery are taken in the counterattack. The rebels destroy the town’s harbour before leaving. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

The Earl of Warwick is heading towards Norwich to stop the rebellion. The Marquess of Northampton was unsuccessful a few weeks earlier with 1,500 men, but Warwick’s army is estimated at up to 14,000. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Warwick’s army attacks and breaches the St Stephen's and Brazen gates. Kett's rebels retreat, setting fire to houses to slow the Royal army, and capture Warwick’s artillery after the transporters get lost in Tombland and Bishopsgate. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

On this day 1549, Kett’s artillery breaks the city walls near Magdalen and Pockthorpe Gate, and his rebels retake the north of the city. Warwick retaliates and fighting in the streets continues all day. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Around 1,500 mercenaries – German handgunners and pikemen - arrive in the city to support Warwick’s army. Kett leaves the camp at Mousehold Heath and relocates to Dussindale based on a prophecy about the area. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Kett’s rebels meet Warwick’s army for a final battle at Dussindale outside the city. Faced with a better equipped and trained force, around 3,000 rebels are killed and the rest run for their lives. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

On this day 1549: following their defeat, up to 300 of Kett's rebels are sentenced at the Oak of Reformation. Kett himself is captured with his brother and taken to the Tower of London to await trial. #OTD #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Shortly after the defeat of Kett’s rebellion a thanksgiving service is held in St Peter Mancroft Church, which continues every year for over a century. Warwick attends the service, and his coat of arms are mounted on the city gates. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Later in the year 1549, Kett will be found guilty of treason - sentenced to be hung at Norwich Castle on 7th December and have his lands forfeited. Today, Kett’s name is still remembered 470 years on through place names, literature and public art. #NorwichHistory #KettsRebellion

Interested in the lasting legacy of #KettsRebellion? Why not join us for a free #HeritageOpenDays talk about the historical mystery novel ‘Tombland’, followed by a tour around Kett’s real-life HQ at Kett’s Heights. More details here: https://bit.ly/2mbSJSB  #NorwichEvents

Set during the time of Kett’s Rebellion, C.J. Sansom’s bestseller, ‘Tombland’ has just been released in paperback! The cover is inspired by one of the 1930s bronze reliefs on the doors to Norwich City Hall. #KettsRebellion #PublicArt

We’ve been working with Friends of Kett’s Heights to create a self-guided trail following the scenes described in C.J. Sansom’s latest Tudor crime thriller, Tombland! Download and get exploring here: https://bit.ly/2lJl3M5  #KettsRebellion #ExploreNorwich