St John Maddermarket, Norwich

Norwich was England's second City in the later middle ages with a thriving wollen and worsted trade.  It had a population of 6,000 in 1377, recovered after the Black Death, and no less than 56 parish churches within the City Walls

St John Maddermarket was constructed in Perpindicular style between 1445-1510, and contains memorials to several Mayors of Norwich of this period.

There is also the tomb of the tragic Margaret Duchess of Norfolk who died in 1564 at age 24 after bearing 4 children to her second husband Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk.  Margaret had been one of the two principal Ladies of Honour at Queen Elizabeth's Coronation in 1559.

She had been widowed at 17 when her first husband Henry Dudley (son of the Duke of Northumberland who had been executed by Mary 1 for treason) was killed at the Battle of Saint Quentin.  This was the climax of the little remembered joint Spanish and English invasion of France led by Philip of Spain and his new Queen Mary 1 of England.  Henry Dudley was proving his loyalty to the new regime and died.  His two brothers survived and received their titles and estates back.

Philip having captured the strategic city of Saint Quentin declined to follow up his victory.