Mr. Woodward said the Map of Norfolk still showed traces of Roman roads radiating from Norwich. The principal roads were—one entering the stronghold in the western side, now St. Stephen’s Street; another entering it on the east, now known as King Street. This last crossed the river by a ford at Fyebridge, and was the origin of Magdalen Street and St. Augustine’s Street; another road left the fortress on the western side, near the river, and was called St. Benedict’s Street; and the last crossed the river at Bishopbridge by another ford, and sent off branches to the north-east and east of Norfolk. He believed that nearly all the main lines of road originated with the Romans, but this is at least doubtful. Norwich must then have been a very large town to have required so many main lines of roads; but its very existence as a town is uncertain during the Roman period.
Mr. Woodward’s second map exhibited the entrenchments round the fortress as already described, at the time of the Conquest. Map the third exhibited the condition of the city in the time of the Domesday Survey, or about A.D. 1100, when 54 churches and chapels existed. Map the fourth showed the state of the city A.D. 1400, when Norwich was described as at the acme of its splendour and importance, and second only to Bristol, after London. This arose from its being the capital of East Anglia, and the residence of so many of the clergy and gentry. Mr. Woodward pointed out the sites of some of the old monasteries in this period. The Bishop’s palace was then within the precincts of the close. Besides the monastery there, and that of St. Leonard’s, there were then several others in Norwich. In King Street, to the south of St. Faith’s Lane, were the Austin Friars, and to the north of Rose Lane the Grey Friars. Both these monastic communities were said to have encroached on the adjacent streets, churchyards, &c., by extending their precincts; which accounted for the changes around them. The Carmelites occupied the whole angle of the city between the river, the walls, and Bargate Street. But few traces of these establishments now remain. The case of the Black Friars was very different. Their magnificent church is still almost entire; much of the convent is still standing in St. Andrew’s Hall, and the Dutch or Walloon Church, and the oldest parts of the former Workhouse. In addition to these, there had been several smaller monastic orders which were merged in the others before the 15th century. In this period, most of the streets on the north side of the town were in existence, and some on the south side.
Formerly, as already intimated, some of our streets were named from the trades of those who occupied them. Thus there were Saddlers’ Gate, now White Lion Street; Wastelgate, now Red Lion Street; Cordwainers’ Row, now part of the Walk; Goldsmiths’ Row, north side of the Market; Hosiers’ Row, in part of London Street; Cutlers’ Row, in part of London Street; Hatters’ Row, now St. Giles’ Street; Dyers’ Row, in St. Lawrence Street; and Pottergate Street, still so called. The Cloth Hall stood in the Haymarket; and on the west side were the Butchery, the Fishmarket, and various other rows, where articles of food were sold.
OLD WALLS AND GATES.
R. Fitch, Esq., is the very best authority respecting the old walls and gates, of which he made a study for many years; and in 1861 he published a very handsome illustrated volume entitled, “Views of the Gates of Norwich made in the years 1792–3, by the late John Ninham; with an Historical Introduction, Extracts from the Corporation Records, and Papers by the late John Kirkpatrick, contributed to the Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Archæological Society, by Robert Fitch, F.S.A., F.G.S.” The author says:—
“The history of the walls of Norwich is a history of the gate houses, and in speaking of the origin of the first we include that of the second. In 1294, being the 23rd Edward I., the first mural tax was granted, and continued three years. A second tax succeeded this, and in 1304 a third tax was imposed, to continue in operation for five years. In the 11th of Edward II., a fourth tax of the like nature was allowed; and in two years after, namely in 1319, the walls of Norwich were completed.”
“When the thickness and extent of the fortifications of this city are considered, it cannot be thought surprising that a period of 25 years elapsed before these mural defences were finished, so far as to render no additional tax necessary. It must not, however, be considered that no other pecuniary assistance was required towards the work. The citizens themselves manifested the greatest interest in the subject; and the ancient books of account contain not only entries of money expended on the walls and gates, but also register the private contributions of persons towards the same object and for necessary reparation.”
“It has been previously observed, that in 1319 the walls of the city were said to have been completed; but something more was required to render them adequate to the purpose for which they were designed. Neither towers nor gates could be of use unless properly furnished with munitions of war and the implements then in use for their projection. This does not appear to have taken place until 23 years after completion, namely in 1342, in 16th Edward III., when a patriotic citizen, Richard Spynk, for the honour of the monarch and the safety of his fellow citizens, gave thirty espringolds to cast stones with, to be kept at divers gates and towers; 100 gogions, or balls of stone, locked up in a box; a box with ropes and accoutrements; four great arblasters, or crossbows, and 100 gogions for each arblaster; two pairs of grapples, to bring the bows to the requisite tension for discharge; also other gogions, and some armour.”
After stating other acts of this citizen, Mr. Fitch proceeds:—
“From this long recital of gifts, it must be concluded that Richard Spynk was virtually the fortifier of the city; for it is clear that until his munificence made the gates and walls complete, they were imperfect. Nor did he suffer his work to fall into decay; but by the adoption of rules and regulations, he preserved to the city the full benefit of what he had done.”
“Before proceeding further with an outline of the history of the Walls and Gates, it should be stated that Norwich had been previously surrounded by a ditch and bank for protection.” * * * * *
“One benefit produces another, and to Richard Spynk was the City not only indebted for its safety from aggression, but also for an extension of its liberties.
“It is recorded that Queen Isabella induced the king, her son, in consideration of the costs and charges for the Walls which had been raised without call on the Government, to grant a charter to the Citizens, that they, and their heirs and successors, dwelling in the said City, should for ever be free from jurisdiction of the Clerk of the Market and of the household of the King, and his heirs, so that the said Clerk or his officers should not enter the City, or fee or make assay of any measures or weights, or to exercise or do anything belonging to the said office of the Clerk of the Market.
“In this King’s reign, according to the Customs’ Book, there is an account of the battlements on the various gates, towers, and walls. These were numbered, in order that each parish might be made acquainted with its responsibilities of repairs in this respect. Beginning from the river to Coslany Gate, there were 112 battlements, and 10 on the gate itself. From that point to St. Augustine’s Gate, were 69 battlements, and on the gate, 12. Thence to Fibrigge Gate—on the walls and towers were 153 battlements, and on the gate, 13; thence to Pockthorpe Gate—on the walls and towers were 178, and on the gate, 10; and from this gate to the river were about 40. From this point to the tower of Conisford Gate, the river chiefly protects the city, but the tower bore 12 battlements; and from the tower on the city side of the water to Conisford Gate, were 26 battlements with 14 on the gate. Thence to Ber Street Gate, were 150; on the gate and its wicket were 27; and from thence to St. Stephen’s Gate were 307 (here were some strong towers); and on this gate and wicket were 28.
“From St. Stephen’s to St. Giles’ Gate were 229 (here again were several strong towers), and on the gate and wicket were 15; and from St. Giles’ to St. Benedict’s Gate were 100, and on the gate itself and wicket were 16; thence to Heigham Gate 79, and on the gate 4—and from this gate to the tower and wall on the river were 16 battlements; in all, 1630. At this period (1345, according to the Domesday Book of the City) there was a tax called ‘Fossage,’ to defray the great charges of the walls and ditches.” * *
“In 1385 a general survey was made, and all the walls and gates were placed in good repair, with a sufficient number of men appointed to guard them. It was also agreed that churchwards should be chosen annually, whose duty it should be to prevent any decay or permanent injury to the fortifications by timely repair or by reconstruction. In 1386, the expectancy of invasion caused general fear throughout the realm, and particularly in the eastern counties. The king sent nearly a thousand men to Yarmouth for the defence of the coast; and so imminent was the peril, that the king commanded the authorities of Norwich to place the walls, towers, and gates in full and able condition to repel all who might appear in opposition to the king’s authority, or crush a design to injure the city. The towers were therefore filled with engines of defence, the walls rendered perfect, and the ditches made as wide and as deep as the necessities of the case demanded.” * * * *
The author proceeds to show the anxious attention which was paid to the preservation of the walls and gates, by copious extracts from a roll, dated 1386. He then gives a full history of the fortifications, from which we shall make some extracts in our narrative of events at different periods. He thus concludes his historical sketch:—
“Not a fragment of the gates now exists, but the certain indications of where, in some instances, they once stood, are yet accidentally preserved.”