Few people present at the banquet held in honour of Queen Elizabeth I at the Maid's Head Hotel would have guessed that in less than 70 years the hotel would be playing host to the forces of another famous historical leader. Even fewer would have guessed that this man would be committed to, and successful in, overthrowing the monarchy so regally represented by their guest of honour that evening.

Cathedral Close.

By 1644 the English Civil war had been all but won by the republicans. Charles I was imprisoned and Oliver Cromwell was more or less running the country on a day to day basis.

Some Royalist pockets of resistance still held out, however, amongst them a group based in Norwich.

Determined to wipe out any remaining resistance Cromwell sent an army of men to Norwich in early January 1644 to demand the surrender of the small group.

Upon entering the city, Cromwell's forces were informed that the group were presently feasting at the Maid's Head Hotel.

As they made their way few of them could have imagined what awaited them. The events of that evening are shrouded in mystery but, for certain, things didn't go the way Cromwell's forces had imagined.

What we do know is that the following day Cromwell's forces ransacked the Cathedral forcing Bishop Hall to flee and take refuge at the "Bishops Palace" in Heigham Street (now the Dolphin Public House).

The Cathedral was stripped almost bare and much of its contents burnt in the market place. The destruction was overwhelming and surprised many by its sheer wantonness. Perhaps it was the events of the previous evening that had enraged Cromwell's men to such degrees of vengeance.

Legend has it that as Cromwell's forces entered the Maid's Head the small group of Royalists had beat a hasty retreat via a secret tunnel and then laid lengths of steel rope across the tunnel.

As Cromwell's men came racing through the tunnel on their horses in pursuit, the Royalists pulled up the steel rope beheading many of the horses and horsemen as they did so.

Not only would this explain, in some way, the viciousness of the surviving forces the following day but it might explain the horses hoovebeats that can often be heard under ground when walking around Cathedral Close.

LOCATION

This ghostly tale has kindly been provided by Ghostly Dave - visit his Norwich Ghost Walk website here.