Blog
Fascinating Facts about Norfolk-Suffolk Rivalry
Everybody needs good neighbours, as the old saying has it – but is that true of the long-standing rivalry between Suffolk and Norfolk?
Hamiltons Removals are based very close to the border of the two counties, so we are ideally placed to explain how it all started, and how it has developed over the years – as well as helping you with your house removals across both Suffolk and Norfolk.
It All Started in Anglo-Saxon Times
During the 6th Century, the Kingdom of the East Angles was founded by the Angles, one of the tribes who invaded Britain after the Roman occupation. The new kingdom was made up of two separate groups, the North Folk (Norfolk) and the South Folk (Suffolk).
The problem was there was no clear land border between the two, with Thetford Forest being the only obvious boundary. This led to constant disputes about who owned what – a rivalry which has continued throughout the Middle Ages and into much more recent times.
The ‘Battle’ of Lowestoft
In 2008, the Boundary Committee suggested that Lowestoft should become part of Norfolk, redrawing the county boundaries in a radical shake-up of local government. The argument was that the Suffolk town would benefit from having closer links with its coastal neighbour Great Yarmouth.
But angry residents, upset at the prospect of being forced to ‘move’ to another county, held protest marches and flag-raising ceremonies, and Lowestoft remains a part of Suffolk.
The Old Farm Derby
The most obvious manifestation of the rivalry between Suffolk and Norfolk comes on the football pitch. Ipswich Town and Norwich City have been rivals ever since the two clubs were formed. The first match between the two took place in 1902, when both clubs were still operating under amateur rules.
It was originally called the East Anglian Derby but in more recent years it has been dubbed the Old Farm Derby, reflecting the arable nature of the two counties. It’s also a pun on the Old Firm Derby between the two Glasgow clubs, Rangers and Celtic.
Initially Ipswich, who could also boast of successes in the Championship, the FA Cup and in Europe, enjoyed more success in the derby. In recent years, though, Norwich have held the upper hand, remaining unbeaten against their rivals for almost a decade. Matches between the two are always keenly contested, with fans keen to claim the title ‘Pride of Anglia’ for their team.
The Deuchar Cup
The sporting rivalry exists on the rivers too. Rowing’s Deuchar Cup was founded in 1909 by JJW Deuchar, a Norfolk JP who worked for Norwich Union Life. Although it was not contested for several years, in more recent times the competition has been revived, with the latest venue being the River Yare in Norfolk.
The rowers are drawn from clubs based in their respective counties. Members of Deben, Sudbury and Ipswich Rowing Clubs are among those from Suffolk who have taken part, while Norwich, Broadland and Yare have done battle on behalf of Norfolk. There are races for men’s, women’s and junior sections with each individual contest scoring points. At the end of the day, the county with the most points takes home the trophy.
Removals to Norfolk and Suffolk with Hamiltons
Hamiltons Removals provide a professional, competitively-priced service to all parts of East Anglia. We have many years of experience in house removals to both Suffolk and Norfolk, as well as the rest of East Anglia and the UK. We also have self-storage sites in south Norfolk – at Harleston and Aldeby – if you ever need to store some possessions away during house moves. If you would like to talk to any of our friendly members of staff then call us on 01379 854810, or follow this link and fill in the form to receive an online quote.
« Back