A Comprehensive History of Norwich

by A. D. Bayne

The Chapel of St. Thomas a Becket, which was not parochial, stood near the same place. No traces of the building can now be discovered.

The College of St. Mary in the Fields, originally called the Chapel in the Fields (whence the present name of Chapel Field was derived), was a chapel dedicated to Mary the Virgin. It was founded about the year 1250, by John Le Brun, as an hospital, but its benefactors were so numerous and munificent that in a very short time it became a noble college, consisting of a dean, chancellor, precentor, treasurer, and seven other prebendaries. Six chaplains or chantry priests were afterwards added. The dean was collated by the bishop in right of the see, or by the king during a vacancy. The premises were very extensive, and were granted at the dissolution to Miles Spencer, LL.D., the last dean. After passing through many hands the property came into possession of shareholders, who built Assembly Rooms on the site of the college. Bond Cabbell, Esq. subsequently bought the whole building for a Freemasons’ Hall.

Guildhall Chapel adjoined the south side of the hall, and was dedicated to St. Barbara. It served as a chapel for the prisoners as well as for the Court to attend divine service when they assembled on public business. It was pulled down long since, and the present porch was erected on its site.

St. Michael’s Chapel, Tombland, stood on the site of the obelisk, and was one of the most ancient religious buildings in Norwich. It was founded by the Earl of the East Angles long before the Conquest and prior to the building of the Cathedral; served as a chapel for the use of their palace, which stood facing the south side of the chapel-yard; and occupied the south end of Tombland, from the monastery gate to the chapel ditch. Bishop Herbert demolished it, and the whole site was laid open for the improvement of the monastery, and a stone cross was erected on the spot. Instead of this, the Bishop built another chapel on the summit of the hill outside of Bishopgate, and dedicated it to St. Michael.

St. Nicholas’ Chapel, Bracondale, was situated at the corner of the road now leading to Carrow Bridge. It was much frequented by fishermen and watermen, who were then numerous, and who made offerings there to St. Nicholas, their patron saint. It was founded before the Conquest and was parochial; but in the time of Edward II. the parish was returned as belonging to Lakenham, with which it is now united.

St. Olave’s Chapel, near King Street Gates, was a parochial chapel long before the Conquest, and in the reign of Edward III. the parish was united to that of St. Peter Southgate. The chapel was demolished before 1345.

MONASTIC INSTITUTIONS.

Mr. Taylor’s Index Monasticus contains the fullest account of the old monasteries which, at one period, were very numerous in the city. Many of them possessed large churches, great wealth, and considerable power. They comprised Priories, Friaries, and Nunneries, which were situated in or near King Street, or St. Faith’s Lane, or the Cowgate. Formerly all the west side of the river was called the Cow-holm, where cows fed on the meadows, and Cowgate consisted of open fields.

Priories.

The Benedictine Priory at the cathedral was founded by Bishop Herbert as already noticed. The Priory of St. Leonard’s was founded by Bishop Herbert before he built the cathedral, and here he placed the monks while the priory was being built. It was situated on Mousehold Heath, opposite Bishop’s Bridge, and served as a cell to the cathedral priory till the Dissolution. At the Dissolution it was granted by Henry VIII. to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, whose son Henry, Earl of Surrey, erected on its site a splendid house, called Surrey house, which has long since fallen into decay. St. Michael’s Chapel, built by Bishop Herbert, was near the priory, and served by monks. It was demolished by the rebel Kett, who, with his followers, encamped near it, so that it has since been called Kett’s Castle. Near the remains of this chapel, in the valley beneath, was Lollard’s Pit, the spot where many of the early Reformers were burned.