Norwich Whifflers

The Whifflers comprise a number of different characters not all of whom are represented at all civic ceremonies. The most commonly seen characters are the:

Whifflers: wearing white costumes bordered with red or turquoise blue braid, hats of the same colour, blue or red breeches, white stockings and black shoes. They also bear wooden swords. The Whifflers also include the Boy Whiffler. Their job originally was to beat a path through the crowd for the Lord Mayor and his entourage and protect them from harm.

This dexterity is supported by the following article:

The frequent occurrence of the term" Whiffler" in describing pageants and processions down to the eighteenth century requires elucidation. They were originally pipers, a whiffle being a fife or small flute, and in course of time the increased number of players in a marching band necessitated the placing in front of one of their number to direct their movement in marching, and to give the signal laying or ceasing to play. Some of the functions of a modern drum-major were, in fact, discharged by the whiffler. After a time he ceased to be a player, and carried a wand. In the City pageants several of them appear to have walked in front to clear the way, and this duty sometimes devolved on the junior members of the Livery Companies. The Norwich Corporation retained their whifflers until 1832. Their costume was a relic of the Tudor period, and consisted of white stockings gartered below the knee with crimson ribbons, capacious trunk breeches of blue plush, a doublet of white cotton with full sleeves trimmed with light blue ribbon and ornamented with gilt buttons, a hat made of crimson cloth and edged with white ribbons, having a large blue bow and white feathers, and the shoes were decorated with large white rosettes. There were four whifflers employed, and each held a sword, broad and short in the blade, but having a long handle grasped by both hands. It was blunt at the point, and without edge, and with this harmless but dexterously flourished weapon, which they frequently threw up into the air and caught in its descent with unerring precision, they effectually kept the crowd back, and no one ventured to dispute their authority.

 Standard Bearers: dressed in archaic 17th century type costume of pale pink or blue they carry the flags and standards of the City and the incumbent Lord Mayor.

Snap the Dragon: a relic of the days of the Guild of St. George, Snap is the civic dragon and represents misrule and evil. Snap is not allowed to enter sacred places but each year attempts to enter Norwich cathedral and is repulsed by the Bishop or a member of the dean and chapter. Snap has calmed his excesses for the 21st century, but is still very fond of chasing nuns and policewomen. The current Snap is a replica of the one in the Castle museum, which is a traditional medieval design and carried by one man. It takes two men to lift Snap so that the operator, or Snap's custodian (the entrails!) can get inside him to operate him!

For more photographs and pictures of these characters have a look at our Photos page.

Characters that do not appear, but could be reintroduced include:

Dick Fool: a disreputable and very non-PC but comic character, dressed in a full length gown of red and white vertical stripes and carrying a 60 centimeter long dildo. An extrovert, Dick Fool insults the onlookers and belabours them with his dildo.

Boy Poet: used to recite odes and other verse in praise of the Lord Mayor and City.

Not really part of the civic pride, pomp, tradition and ceremony were the Norwich Waits who provided music and song as entertainment to the Lord Mayor and guests at feasts. The Whifflers would like eventually like to reform the Waites in an amateur capacity (we are aware that there are professional Norwich Waits and would not like to interfere with their professional musical careers). For an account of what Waits were and how they operated and where they were to be found all over England, go to "The Waits"  by F A Hadland.

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