Wymondham
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Template:GBmap Wymondham (pronounced or ) is a historic market town in Norfolk to the south west of the county town of Norwich, and on the main road to Thetford and Cambridge. In the town centre it has a unique market cross, a round building raised about 10ft off the ground that used to have traders in the building. It is now a Public Information Centre.
Wymondham Abbey is the parish church.
Wymondham's most famous inhabitant was Robert Kett, who in 1549 led a rebellion of peasants and small farmers who were protesting about the inclosure of common land. He took a force of almost unarmed men, and fought for and held the City of Norwich for six weeks until defeated by the King's forces. He was hanged from Norwich Castle. Kett's Oak, said to be the rallying point for the rebellion, may still be seen today on the road between Wymondham and Hethersett.
In 1785 a prison was built incorporating the ideas of John Howard, the prison reformer. It was the first prison to be built in this country with separate cells for the prisoners, and was widely copied both in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and forms the basis of modern prisions.
See also
External links
- Wymondham Website (http://www.wymondham-norfolk.co.uk/)