It is known as Norfolk's rebel town, with a proud history as the last bastion of the Peasants' Revolt.
But in recent years, things seem to have been running a bit more smoothly in North Walsham. Until now, that is.
Trouble is again brewing in the town which has seen its council hit by an extraordinary series of rows triggered by the most unlikely of causes.
The turmoil appears to have been kicked off by council workers removing a much-loved feature of the town, a rocking horse which had been a fixture of its main park since the 1960s.
Its removal, which involved it being cut in half, prompted a groundswell of anger in the town rarely seen since the widespread social uprising of 1381.
The council was hit by a wave of popular outrage, which appears to have kick-started a chain reaction at the authority.
The discord has led to three of its members quitting and has been blamed for employees going off sick.
At the same time, thousands of pounds are being spent on HR firms amid multiple grievance complaints levelled at staff and councillors.
Meanwhile, the Monitoring Officer at North Norfolk District Council, which oversees the town council, has been drawn in to try to restore stability.
One town resident, who did not wish to be named, described the situation as a "real mess".
WHAT IS GOING ON?
Much of the town council discussions about the internal unrest have been held in private.
But sources have said things started to unravel after the unpopular eviction of the rocking horse from Memorial Park, in February.
The play equipment had been used by children for decades but it was suddenly dismantled and removed that month.
It led to hundreds of complaints and an intervention from the then local MP, Duncan Baker.
The council said it was removed due to "wear and tear" and that it will be reinstated at some point.
However, the situation remains unclear with no news as to when the horse may return.
What is clearer, however, is that the council is still reeling from the uproar.
Sources have said it led to an internal investigation into why the horse was removed.
Since being taken away, it had been kept in a serving councillor's workshop but has recently been taken from there for professional repairs.
The investigation has coincided with wider inquiries into the running of the park and the council.
A forensic auditor is examining the authority's finances after an internal audit found discrepancies with its finances, with the probe going back to April 2022. Do The Numbers UK has been employed at a cost of £4,000.
A key issue is the management of Memorial Park, which is run as a charitable trust by North Walsham Town Council (NWTC).
The council has not submitted any accounts to the Charity Commission since 2022.
It was also discovered that the trust does not have a separate bank account to the council, which means there is no separation between the two's finances.
As of October 10, it has £675,923 in bank accounts.
According to meeting minutes from July, it was agreed for an internal investigation to take place into complaints from staff members - which are understood to partly relate to the removal of the horse - and that a meeting would take place within 10 days.
Two staff members are currently believed to be on sick leave amid the turmoil.
Existing staff have taken over these responsibilities in their absence, which was agreed in October at two extraordinary meetings held in private.
At a full council meeting held on October 29, it was agreed to employ Worknest - an employment law and HR consultant firm - to investigate grievances from two members of staff at a cost of £1,400.
This is despite NWTC having a contract with Croner, another HR firm, which it pays between £4,000 a year annually.
This means the council has employed two separate HR firms to conduct investigations into staffing matters.
In total, the council is paying at least £10,000 in the numerous probes and lawyer costs.
It was also revealed that a third member of staff has made a complaint, which has been passed to NNDC's Monitoring Officer.
A spokesman for the council said it is reviewing the allegations before considering launching an investigation.
At the same meeting, the personnel committee - which handles staffing issues - was suspended while the investigations are completed.
An acquaintance of one of the staff members off sick, who did not wish to be named, said they have been affected by stress due to the current issues.
"It all seems a real mess at the moment, you hear about things that have been happening," he said.
"The taxpayers deserve to know what is going on behind closed doors."
COUNCILLORS QUIT
Following the October meeting, several councillors quit their roles at the fractious council out of frustration.
This includes Lucy Shires, who is also a cabinet member at NNDC, who quit that evening.
Other councillors to leave include Mal Gray and Laura Eastwick.
Explaining her decision to leave, Ms Shires said: "This was a difficult decision and was not made lightly.
"Over time, I have become increasingly concerned that the council’s focus has shifted away from what I believe should be its primary goal: serving the residents of our town with integrity and transparency.
"Furthermore, I am concerned about recent financial decisions and information management practices. These matters are vital to uphold the trust between the council and our residents."
She added that she remains committed to serving the people of North Walsham as a district councillor.
Bob Wright, mayor of North Walsham, said details of the many investigations cannot be revealed currently until they are concluded.
He said: "North Walsham Town Council is currently addressing historic financial and safety management issues that have come to light in recent months.
"Recent councillor resignations reflect a range of concerns, some of which may relate to the handling of these issues.
"We are also conducting an investigation into staff grievances in accordance with our HR policies. This is a confidential matter, but appropriate actions will follow the conclusion of the investigation.
"While the scope of these matters is still being fully assessed, the council is committed to taking the necessary steps to improve its operations."
NORFOLK'S REBEL TOWN
North Walsham has been a relatively peaceful settlement throughout much of its existence
But in 1381, it became the site of one of the darkest moments in Norfolk's history.
John Litester, assisted by man called Cubitt of North Walsham, led a rebellion of thousands who seized the city of Norwich.
The uprising was part of the wider Peasants' Revolt, which broke out across the country that year.
But the forces of Henry Despenser, the Bishop of Norwich, managed to push back the unruly Norfolk mob.
They were forced to retreat to North Walsham and when confronted by the bishop's forces, it is said many were slain in the ensuing battle, on heathland just to the west of the town.
Survivors barricaded themselves in a church in the town, which was stormed by the bishop's army.
John Litester was publicly executed after the battle.
The clash has national significance as it was the last major outbreak of the Peasants' Revolt.
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