John Norman (usually known, since his death, as Alderman Norman) (1657 – 10 May 1724) was a businessman who was Mayor of Norwich in 1714–15. Norman is more notable, however, for his will, which left his considerable estate to the benefit of the descendants of his family members of those of his first wife, not by way of direct bequest but by the establishment of a trust. The trust is for educational purposes and, although much modified, still exists.

Early life

Norman was born in 1657, to John and Ann Norman. His date of birth is unknown, but he was baptised on 20 April 1657 at St Giles' Church in Norwich. Little is known about his antecedents, other than that Norman's grandfather, Roger Norman, a silk weaver who was a

Huguenot The Huguenots ( , ; ) are a Religious denomination, religious group of French people, French Protestants who held to the Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, ...

refugee, came to Norwich in the early 17th century.

Career

Norman had a varied business career, variously being a

worsted Worsted ( or ) is a high-quality type of wool yarn, the fabric made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from Worstead (from Old English ''Wurðestede'', "enclosure place"), a village in the English county of Norfolk. T ...

weaver, a farmer, a landowner, and a brewer. He was a churchwarden of St Peter Parmentergate, Norwich, Sheriff of Norwich in 1705-06 (not to be confused with

High Sheriff of Norfolk The high sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually (in March) by the Crown. The High Sheriff of Norfolk was originally the principal law enforcement officer in Norfolk and presided at the assizes and other im ...

) and Mayor of Norwich in 1714–15. It is very likely that he was present for the first ever recorded complete peal of church bells, which took place at

St Peter Mancroft St Peter Mancroft is a parish church in the Church of England in the centre of Norwich, Norfolk. After the two cathedrals, it is the largest church in Norwich. It was originally established by Ralph de Gael, Earl of East Anglia, between 1066 and ...

on 2 May 1715, during his term in office.

Personal life

Norman married twice. His first marriage was at St Margaret's,

Hempnall Hempnall is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. Hempnall is located north of Harleston and south of Norwich. History Hempnall's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for ''Hemma's'' nook ...

, on 25 December 1679, to Ann Mace. She died in 1714, during his term in office as Mayor. He married secondly at St Mary in the Marsh, on 16 March 1715, Katherine Brereton. There were no children of either marriage. He died in 1724 in

Bramerton Bramerton is a village and civil parish in the England, English county of Norfolk. Bramerton is located north-west of Loddon, Norfolk, Loddon and south-east of Norwich. History Bramerton's name is of Anglo-Saxons, Anglo-Saxon origin and d ...

, and is buried at St Margaret's,

Old Catton Old Catton is a suburban village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk which lies to the north-east of central Norwich. The parish is bounded by the Norwich International Airport at Hellesdon to the west and Sprowston to the eas ...

, where he lived, and where a monument was erected in his memory in the church.

Legacy

Norman left a will, written in 1720 and 1723, which made provision for an educational trust. The effective consequence of his will was to create the Foundation that exists in his name. The Foundation funds educational needs of descendants of Norman's family members and those of his first wife. It also provides funding for charitable works in the wider educational sphere. The former Alderman Norman's Endowed School, which finally opened in 1839 in Cowgate, closed in 1934. Two boats have been built, and named for Norman: the ''Alderman Norman I'' (1988) and the ''Alderman Norman II'' (2019). Both were funded by the Foundation. The 1988 boat is a timber-built 23 feet boat. The 2019 boat is also a timber-built 23'6" boat (boat no 1591Y). Both are modelled on a traditional

Norfolk Broads Norfolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and east, Cambridgeshire to the west, a ...

reedlighter, a boat that carried the reed harvest. The Norman Centre at Mile Cross is named after him.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Norman, John 1657 births Businesspeople from Norwich Mayors of Norwich English philanthropists 1724 deaths