Why is Norwich in Oxford?

Alright?

How’s your week been? I’ve spent mine batting away flies, which I’m guessing is mostly how you’ve spent yours, too.

Norwich means many things to many people. For some, it’s home. For Luis Suarez, it’s a guaranteed hat-trick. For someone fighting in World War 2, it might’ve been used as a postal acronym that meant (k)Nickers Off, Ready When I Come Home.

But regardless of your particular disposition, we can all agree that, at the very least, it’s a right nice city nestled in the East of England.

Nope. I’m afraid even that’s up for debate. There are, in fact, around 17 Norwichs in the world by my count. 15 of those are in the U.S.

Today I’m going to tell you about three of them.

Norwich’s best stories, over a pint 🍺

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The one that’s creepily similar to ours.

Connecticut’s Norwich has definitely taken inspiration from the original.

In one particular instance, the resemblance is uncanny. Recognise this?

Here’s a clearer hint:

The eerie similarity was spotted by Norwich (UK) resident Helen Adcock, who moved to the US from Thorpe St Andrew.

This building is where the parallels end, though. Home to just over 36,000 people, Norwich, Connecticut, is known as the “Rose of New England” and has a harbour from which the Thames River flows south. Obviously.

It’s also got a historical neighbourhood, creatively named Norwichtown.

The one near Dereham.

You will, of course, remember the Norwich Tornado of 1998. Some of you might even recall the Great Tornado of 1979.

Well, you would if you lived in Ontario’s Norwich, that is. It has a motto that would fit its UK-based cousin quite nicely: Beautiful, Agricultural, Historical.

If you can tear yourself away from the Norwich and District Museum (pictured below), you might fancy a day trip to Dereham. That’s right: there’s a Dereham town just up the road. There’s also a “Windham” not far away, too.

You’d be forgiven for assuming that the towns of Norwich and Dereham are found in Ontario’s Norfolk County. But alas, they’re actually found in Oxford County, which is next to Norfolk County.

That’s because, in 1798, the government decided that the place names along their River Thames (oh yeah - there’s a River Thames in Ontario, too) should mirror those along the UK’s River Thames.

This forced them to redraw the county lines, which is why you’ll find Norwich, Ontario, in Oxford County, Ontario. Are you following?

The one with a famous Partridge.

If a war ever breaks out between all of the world’s Norwichs (it’s admittedly hard to imagine the bizarre geopolitical events that would need to happen to cause an inter-Norwich war), the one in Vermont might fancy its chances.

It’s not the biggest (that’s us), but it is home to the world-famous Norwich University.

Founded in 1819, Norwich University happens to be the oldest private military college in the U.S., which means it’s nearly as old as some of our youngest pubs.

Funnily enough, it was founded by Mr. Alden Partridge, who I can only assume is the U.S. version of Alan.

Naturally, Norwich, Vermont, is bordered by a town called Thetford. Pictured below, you’ll see its general store on the left, and a pub on the right:

There are plenty more…

Want to learn more about the other Norwichs?

Here’s a list. There are 10 there. One of them has a population of 87, which means it has fewer people than we have pubs in the city centre.

There are another six Norwich townships listed here.

Whilst our Norwich is the oldest, the most populated, and almost certainly the finest, it’s strangely comforting to know that thousands of Americans and Canadians also call Norwich home. Who cares if it’s not our one?

Next week, I’m telling the grizzly story of Augustine Steward House - the wonky one on Tombland.

See you soon,

Secret Norwich.