Norwich Witchcraft - Fye Bridge

Fye Bridge - Norwich

I went to the Records office at Norwich county hall, to find information about 'Fye bridge', and to gather any possible evidence of  involvement in the Norwich witch trails. I was privileged enough to get to see and handle the official documentation for the original planning application and specifications for the bridge dating back to the 18th Century.  The bridge was taken down and rebuilt,  the project was entrusted to a Mr. William Bough and Mr. George Smith who officially sign and placed there seal on documentation that states in which materials are to be used in the reconstruction of the bridge, and the way the process should take place. The stones and flint that could be salvaged from the original bridge were used to make the foundations of the current bridge. New Yorkshire stone, Bromley faced stone, English oak wood, were materials all employed in the making of the new bridge that was fitted with a granite curb, and Cast iron plates 7/8 of an inch to hold the structure firmly in place. The arch of the bridge would rise around 34 feet.

All the original documentation regarded 'ducking' connected to the Witch trails were 16th Century and therefore notoriously difficult to read and even more difficult to understand. Fye bridge was indeed one of the bridges officials would duck criminals, and as witchcraft was seen as a Criminal offence it was punishable in the same way the law would handle theft or infertility. Any bridge along the river Wenson in Norwich could have been used duck criminals, however along Quay side was particular popular. Today there stands a commemorative plaque alluding to the rivers darker history.