Norwich has always, rightly, been proud if its pubs and breweries. There are many, even now, and a lot of time and research has gone into recording their history. However, after much research I have discovered a gap in this information. I refer to the now hidden history of ‘St Noota’s Loop.
Not much is known about St Noota other than she is the patron saint of ‘Confused Souls’. It is thought that a chapel in her honour stood outside the city walls on or near the site of our beloved Champion PH.
St Noota’s Loop, as far as records exist, has its roots in the mid-19th century. Norwich was growing and settlements were being built outside the said walls. One of these, roughly conforming to the area now known as the ‘Golden Triangle’ and covering a lot of the NR2 postcode, grew out from the walls in a south westerly direction. Much of the land was owned by local benefactor Colonel Unthank. He sold off plots of land to local builders, issuing strict instructions as to the style of building but ensuring that many streets had a pub on the corner. Good man. As now local rivalry between pubs was common and there emerged a weekend of frivolity known as St Noota’s Weekend. St Noota’s Day is officially the 3rd Sunday in July, so the weekend included the preceding Friday and Saturday.
The highlight of the weekend was the Sunday race ‘St Noota’s Loop. For the previous two days the pubs involved held various entertainments. I have been able to discover the events peculiar to the five pubs on the trail, but I am sure further research will uncover similar activities in other pubs.
But to ‘The Loop’. The race consisted of teams of four people transporting a pin, 36 pints of ale, from the designated starting pub to the designated finishing pub after visiting all participating pubs on the way. Only human effort was allowed. No horsepower or barrows, although stretchers and slings were permitted. The starting pub was drawn out of a hat, but the last pub would always be the previous year’s winners. Presumably, as a reward for winning the previous year, the finishing pub would enjoy extra custom as everyone wanted to see the finish.
There were a few rules. Each pub had to provide their own pin if beer, in those days a heavy wooden cask, for the inspection of the other contestants. After all, you wouldn’t want the cask to be filled with water, thus making it lighter. Traditionally the ale would be a barrel of the previous winter’s strong ale. There was no set route, the teams being given a leather belt that would be stamped by each pub with their own insignia. Each team member had to have a drink at each pub. The winning team would be given the title of ‘Mightily Nooted’ and all other teams finishing would be considered ‘Well Leathered’.
The weekend, as can be expected, saw much frivolity, betting was rampant, as was the resulting disputes and the Norwich City Police cancelled all leave for that weekend. However, due to pressure from these custodians of peace and good order, and the emergence of the highly misguided Temperance Movement, the event was gradually supressed with the last recorded weekend being held in 1915. Possibly due to the war effort.
Almost all records of this event were destroyed by the above organisations in a useless attempt to hide a glorious, truly Norvician, event. Little did they know that we aren’t daft in Norfolk. An underground movement of both publicans and customers swore blind to keep the event going. Known as ‘The Noota’d Again’, it exists and one day, when we feel confident, the weekend will be reborn.
Membership is by invitation although a deep pocket when in local licensed premises will help. It took me many years of frequenting local hostelries before I was even acknowledged. You also need to be able to answer correctly the question ‘Hev yor Fa’a got a dickie bor’.
Fare ya well ol’ partners.
P.S. any more information about St Noota, the Loop, the pubs or anything related to this fascinating subject would be gratefully received.
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