Norwich

Back to Norwich index
 

In 1599 Will Kemp morris-danced from London to Norwich. Kemp was an actor, a jester and a friend of William Shakespeare.  It is suggested that he undertook the journey when Shakespeare turned him down for the role of the clown in Hamlet.

The following year he wrote an account of his journey entitled: Kemp's Nine Daies Wonder. However, the journey actually took him 23 days.
 

Master Kemp his welcome to Norwich.

W  With hart, and hand, among the rest,
E   Especially you welcome are:
L   Long looked for as welcome guest,
C   Come now at last you be from farre.
O   Of most within the citty, sure,
M   Many good wishes you haue had;
E   Each one did pray you might indure,
W  With courage good the match you made.
I    Intend they did with gladsome hearts,
L   Like your well willers, you to meete:
K   Know you also they'l doe their parts,
E   Eyther in field or house to greete
M   More you then any with you came,
P   Procur'd thereto with rump and fame.
 

your well-willer,
T.G.

There is a wood carving in Chapelfield Gardens by Mark Goldsworthy which commemorates Kemp's journey.

On the wall of the Maddermarket Theatre in St. John's Alley there is a plaque marking the spot where Kemp ended his morris dance and where, to celebrate, he jumped over the wall of the St. John Maddermarket Church.

St. John Maddermarket churchyard wall

Rowley described Kemp's adventure as: 'a wild morrige to Norridge'.

Kemp's morris dance is soon to be re-enacted by Tim FitzHigham - who has previously copied Kemp's feat of rowing the length of the Thames in a paper boat.
 

Links:

Nine Daies Wonder (Full Text)

Tim FitzHigham