Page "Wymondham" Paragraph 12

In the town centre there is a market cross, which is now used as a Tourist Information Centre and is owned by the Town Council.

The original building was destroyed in the Great Fire of Wymondham in 1615 ; the present building was rebuilt between 1617-18 at a cost of £ 25-7-0d with funds loaned by local man, Philip Cullyer.

The stilted building was like many others designed to protect valuable documents from both flood and vermin.

According to T. F.

Thistleton Dyer's " English Folklore " 1878, live rats were nailed by their tails to the side of the building by way of a deterrent.

This bizarre superstition ended in 1902 after a child was bitten, later to die of blood-poisoning.