A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

With a short notice of these, the account is concluded:—

“Conisford Gate. A fragment of the wall of the east side of this gate still exists, attached to the west of the ‘Cinder Ovens’ public house at the south end of King Street, and also on the opposite side of the street.

“Ber Street Gate. No portion of this gate remains; but where the structure stood is sufficiently evident by the high wall on the west side of the upper end of Ber Street.

“Brazen Doors. Not a fragment remains.

“St. Stephen’s Gate. No portion left.

“St. Giles’ Gate. The house against which the south side of this gate abutted still stands, and part of the lower walls of the building can be seen. [126]

“St. Benedict’s Gate. Here a corresponding house or abuttal of this gate stands perfect, with one of the strong iron staples, on which hung one of the doors, projecting from the wall.

“Heigham Gate. Very slight remains left.

“St. Martin’s Gate. A portion of the north side of this gate is left erect and firm, with small tenements abutting against it

“St. Augustine’s Gate. No fragment is left. A large portion of the ditch between this gate and St. Martin’s is clearly seen, very few buildings having been erected on its site.

“Magdalen Gate. No portion left, but the form and interior of the city wall is well seen at this point.

“Barre or Pockthorpe Gate. Indications are left of where the gate stood, with fragments of the wall on the right and left

“Bishop’s Gate. Nothing of the gate exists, but the exact site may be seen by the necessary increased width of the bridge.

“The precise spot where each gate stood may be found by tracing a line of the city wall, where it crossed a street; the gates being of course integral portions of the wall perforated for traffic and fortified with extra work for adequate defence.”

DESECRATED CHURCHES.

The Rev. Francis Blomefield, of Fersfield, who flourished in the first half of the last century, was the chief of Norfolk historians and antiquarians. He was great in genealogy and heraldry, and very elaborate on monuments and epitaphs, while he altogether passed over more important matters. We might almost wish that he had known less of heraldry and more of history; but his great work must ever be the foundation of local history in Norwich and Norfolk. A perfect copy of his work, being very scarce, is now worth at least £20. It contains most of the documentary antiquities of the city, such as charters, acts of parliaments, proceedings of public bodies, and other official sources of information, of which he has made a good use. He has given full details from the records of every parish, and of the old corporation. He states the great changes which took place in the city and county at the time of the Reformation, and the dissolution of the monasteries, when nineteen of those institutions existed in Norwich.

Blomefield notices several large conventual churches, which were desecrated at the Reformation, and many parish churches which have been demolished, their parishes being incorporated with those now existing.

All Saints’, situated in Fyebridge Street, was at the north corner of the street called Cowgate, at its entrance into Magdalen Street, and was built before the Conquest. At the foundation of the cathedral it was appropriated to the convent, and at the Reformation to the dean and chapter. It was said to have had a very fine font, erected in 1477. In 1550 the church was taken down, and the parish, with that of St. Margaret, was annexed to St. Paul’s.

St. Bartholomew’s, in Ber Street, was in the patronage of the prior of Wymondham, and at the Dissolution was consolidated with St. John’s Sepulchre, and the church taken down.

St. Bittulph’s stood in Magdalen Street, a little north of Stump Cross. It was founded before 1300 and was taken down in 1548, and the parish united to St. Saviour’s.

St. Christopher’s stood on the east side of St. Andrew’s Hill, and was one of the oldest churches in the city. It was burnt down in the reign of Henry III. The greater portion of the parish was united to St. Andrew’s and a smaller part to St. Michael’s at Plea.

St. Crucis, or St. Crowches, stood in Broad Street, St. Andrew’s. It was dedicated to the honour of the holy cross, and was erected before the year 1272. In 1551 it was desecrated, and the parish united to St. John’s Maddermarket.