NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL September 2007 CONTENTS

01 Introduction 02 Executive Summary 18 Building Materials & Types 03 Location & Context 24 Historic Public Realm 04 Topography & Landscape 26 Policies & Guidelines 06 History & Archaeology 31 Introduction to Character Areas 12 Current & Former Uses 34 Character Areas 17 City Landmarks 137 Additions to Local List

PAGE 3 // NORWICH CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL CONTENTS References

Architectural Guide to Cambridge and East Anglia since 1920; Charles McKean

City of Norwich Replacement Local Plan; Adopted Version, November 2004

HEART Development Plan

Images of England: Norwich Streets; Barry Pardue

Norwich: ‘A Fine City’; Brian Ayers

Street by Street: Norwich; Pamela Brooks

The Buildings of England – Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East; Nikolaus Pevsner and Bill Wilson

The Norwich Lanes – A Pilot Study: Defi ning and Development of Local Distinctiveness; HEART

With thanks to the organisations and individuals who have provided their thoughts and suggestions:

Churches Trust Central Norwich Citizens Forum Norwich Society St Augustine’s Together Group Victorian Society Ann Rostron Eileen Brennan

With particular thanks to Jonathan Plunkett and his father George Plunkett (1913-2006) for the generous use of their archive photograph collection which can been seen in full at: www.the-plunketts.freeserve.co.uk

PAGE 4 // NORWICH CITY CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL INTRODUCTION

R ive r W en su m

12

6 16

A 147 13 Introduction 11 The Norwich City Centre Conservation 1 Norwich has a unique character which is a Area was created in October 1992 product of its location and history. The fi rst 08 14 5 B11 4 to cover the whole of the city within part of this document therefore summarises 17 the medieval city walls. Previously Yare the issues which have infl uenced Norwich’s er 9 A iv 14 R separate Conservation Areas covered form and considers the key characteristics 0 different parts of the area; the fi rst which defi ne the city we see today. Issues 2 being designated in 1970 and various Ya and Guidelines are then set out to show the iver re 3 R modifi cations have been made to the key characteristics that will be maintained 15 8 boundary as recently as 2003. There are 7 and enhanced. A4 16 other Conservation Areas within the Norwich City Council administrative area. The Conservation Area covers over 230ha 10 7 (570 acres). Within the boundary are

0

4

1 Conservation Areas are defi ned as ‘areas

A several distinct ‘character areas’. These of special architectural or historic interest, are identifi ed in this document and their the character and appearance of which special characteristics defi ned. Policies and it is desirable to preserve or enhance’. proposals for the specifi c management of When a Conservation Area is designated, each character area are then provided. 1. City Centre the Council has a duty to ‘draw up and 6. Sewell 10. Old Lakeham 14. Thorpe Ridge 2. Bracondale publish proposals’ for its preservation and 3. Newmarket Rd 7. Eaton 11. Bowthorpe 15. Unthank & Christchurch 4. Heighham Grove 8. Trouse 12. Mile Cross 16. Hellesdon Village enhancement. This document aims to fulfi l 5. Thorpe 9. Earlham 13. Thorpe Hamlet 17. St Matthews that duty.

PAGE 1 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary

Norwich is an important regional city Tombland which was the city’s fi rst market living near to the centre continued to inhabit from vantage points outside the city centre with a population of over 200,000 within place. The Normans had a greater infl uence, densely populated courts. Major industrial especially to the north and east. the urban area. The city’s economy is turning the city into a major urban centre businesses developed in or near the central founded on fi nancial services, creative with an important market which largely area and some became household names. Several building types are important to the and media industries and life sciences survives today. The castle and cathedral The development, particularly of shoe character of central Norwich. Some of these and it has a major university with around both developed under French rule and the factories, continued into the C20. are key landmarks, whilst others, such as the 14,000 students. grid street pattern is still evident in some surviving parts of the city walls, medieval areas. Some of the earliest churches and The erection of a new civic complex and churches, merchants houses, vernacular The River Wensum is the key landscape the Music House on King Street owe their the replacement of insanitary housing areas houses (often with their distinctive ‘lucams’ feature within the historic core of the city. origins to Norman builders. characterised the 1930s. Signifi cant areas or oversized dormers), Georgian houses, It fl ows into the River Yare to the south east of bomb damage during the Second World C19 and early C20 public, commercial and of the city centre. The underlying geology The erection of the city walls was the major War has left a legacy of sometimes poor industrial buildings, together help defi ne of the city is chalk with fl int deposits and legacy of the medieval period. By the middle quality post-war industrial and commercial the character of sub-areas of the city. The glacial sand and gravel in the valley bottom. ages, Norwich was home to 30,000 people, building, whilst the infl uence of the private consistency of building materials is also an The centre of the city is quite hilly adding making it England’s second city. Fine houses car is most apparent along the ring road, important characteristic with a hierarchy of considerable drama to the townscape of were built for merchants close to the city particularly where it bisects Magdalen Street. materials, often changing with time and the many streets. centre with many of their undercrofts surviving Later C20 developments however have seen status of buildings, being easily traceable. today. Norwich was also home to several fi ne new civic and commercial buildings and The riverside, wooded escarpments, and religious foundations, hospitals and colleges. the redevelopment of many industrial areas Whilst Norwich as a city clearly has a strong parks all contribute signifi cant numbers of for housing. identity and ‘sense of place’, its character mature trees to the landscape. Much of During the Reformation much of the varies within different parts of the city. The the central area has narrow streets with former monastic land became available Norwich has six strategic landmarks which area can therefore be divided into a series buildings on the footpath edge for development. Settlers migrated from are very useful in orientating oneself around of ‘character areas’ which are identifi able producing tight and intimate townscapes. the Low Countries however and their the City. These are the Castle, Anglican because of their distinctive townscape, The central area also has a number of new techniques saw the weaving industry Cathedral, Roman Catholic Cathedral, greater concentrations of particular uses, ‘plains’, areas of open space which vary fl ourish. Their introduction of brick St Peter Mancroft, St Giles on the Hill building types or materials, or presence of considerably in scale but are often important and pantile manufacturing changed the Church and City Hall clock tower. In open spaces or more modern buildings. to the setting of key buildings such as appearance of the city as new houses were addition several of the other large medieval These areas are defi ned and their key churches. built and old ones refaced, and the city now churches are important in views from characteristics described. has many fi ne Georgian houses. parts of the town with numerous other The way central Norwich looks today buildings recognisable as local ‘landmarks’. is the product of almost 1000 years of During the C19, development began to Panoramic views over the city are only development. The legacy of the Saxon take place outside the city walls, much of available from the top of tall buildings or and Anglo-Scandinavian settlers includes it terraces of houses, though many people

PAGE 2 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL LOCATION & CONTEXT

Cromer

Location & Context River Wensum Norwich stands at the heart of East A140 Anglia and is a major regional city with a population of 200,000 within the urban area. The presence of the Rivers Wensum and Yare was at the heart of the city’s Norfolk Broads A47 early development allowing it to fl ourish A47 Great Yarmouth as a trading centre particularly with the Swaffham Norwich Low Countries. Today the rivers link into the Norfolk Broads waterway network

s and bolster Norwich’s increasing a T

r e Lowestoft popularity as a tourist destination. Riv Norwich’s economy was originally based A11 A140 on the woollen industry and the city Thetford Diss developed as a regional service provider for the rural hinterland. By the C18 a number of manufacturing industries developed Cambridge, including shoemaking and, later, iron London (via M11) foundries. Several companies such as Colmans, and Boulton and Paul became household names; the former becoming the largest employer in the city in the late C19. Norwich today is well-known for its fi nancial services though these too have their origins in the C18. Whilst many of Ipswich the key industrial concerns of the C19 and early C20, including shoe manufacture, have declined, these have been replaced by the creative and media industries with several companies having their national and regional London headquarters in city. The city also has a Liverpool Street major University with around 14,000 under- Colchester and post-graduate students.

PAGE 3 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL TOPOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

Mousehold Heath

St. August Topography & Landscape Street

ine’s The underlying geology of Norwich in a city…’ and the city today continues to

Magdalen Street is chalk (with fl int and occasionally enjoy a well-wooded setting with over 200 St. James Hill sandstone deposits) though glacial sand acres of publicly-owned woodland within

St. Crispin’s Road and gravel up to 7m thick form terraces the city boundary. The ridges, created by in the river valley bottom. There are two the cutting of valleys by the Rivers Yare and Oak Street Fishergate areas of relatively high ground; Wensum, are generally well wooded and are

Duke Street Mousehold Heath to the north and east particularly important to the setting of the Colegate Bishopgate and the Ber Street escarpment to the city centre. Within the central area, the River Gas Hill south and west which forms a prominent Wensum is the most important natural fea-

Tombland St. Benedict’s Street and quite steeply wooded ridge between ture. Land adjacent to the river was marsh- Rouen Road and King Street. land during Saxon times. The area around the Cathedral Close remains a functional fl ood Pottergate Norwich is a surprisingly hilly city. Streams plain today and so is not highly developed. Prince of Wales Road River Wensum St. Giles Street (known locally as ‘cockeys’), with their Even where the river is more tightly lined by own small valleys, fed the River Wensum. buildings, there are often groups of good Castle Although they have now been culverted mature trees lining the banks which enhance Chapel Field Road and some levelling has taken place over the the appearance of both the river and the years, their infl uence remains in the line buildings along it and make walks beside the of streets such as Red Lion and White Lion river particularly pleasant. Streets. The Great Cockey is clearly visible to ’s Street Roue King Street the left of the Castle Mound (the Mound to The City Centre has several parks, open

n Road St. Stephen some extent artifi cially created). spaces and school recreation grounds which Ber Street escarpment contribute greenery and open space. In Mousehold Heath is an extremely important addition, most of the historic churches in element of the city’s setting and one which the city centre have churchyards. Although Queen’s Road Ber Street features heavily in the work of the Norwich many of these are quite small, they often School of landscape painters. The heath is contain mature trees and provide green the remnant of a broad tract of land which oases in otherwise tightly-defi ned streets. ran eastwards as far as South Walsham. Around the edge of the city centre, some of The wooded slopes at the western end of the stretches of surviving city wall also have Topography the heath can be seen from the City Centre attractive green settings which are useful in Height in metres Conservation Area. visual and amenity terms. 510152025303540455055 In the C18, Thomas Fuller described Norwich Just as important to the character of central Height (metres) as ‘either a city in a orchard or an orchard Norwich as the greenspaces are the ‘plains’.

PAGE 4 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL TOPOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

Landscape

11 Public spaces and plains These vary in scale from the recently laid- 1. Anglia Square out Millennium Plain to St Catherine’s Plain 2. St. Martin-at-Palace Plain (Finkelgate) which is now a vestige of its 3. Tombland 12 1 former self. Today these spaces tend to be 4. St. Andrews Hall Plain widened sections of streets, often at cross 5. Market Place 6. Millennium Plain 16 roads or junctions and particularly in front 7. Hay Hill of churches. When they occur within a grid 8. Orford Hill 27 of narrow streets, such spaces can be very 9. Chapelfi eld Plain 28 14 2 important in providing a breathing space, or 10. All Saints Green a location for tree planting. 29 Key open spaces 13 17 11. St. Martins at Oak Wall Lane 30 15 12. Gildencroft 18 31 13. St Georges Street 4 19 14. The Oasis 3 20 15. Elm Hill Gardens 26 23 16. Riverside Walk 21 17. Lifes Green 22 18. The Cloisters 19. Upper Close 5 20. Lower Close 21. James Stuart Garden 6 22. Riverside Walk 24 25 7 23. Riverside Walk 24. Castle Green 8 25. Chapelfi eld Gardens 9 26. St Gregory’s Green 10 27. Hospital Meadow 28. St Helen’s House

Playing fi elds 29. Green Yard 30. Tennis Courts 31. The Close Public spaces and plains 32. St. Catherines Hill 33 Key open space 32 Wooded slope Playing fi elds / School grounds 33. Richmond Hill 34 34. The Wilderness Wooded Slopes

PAGE 5 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

History & Archaeology The Norwich that we know today The bishopric was transferred to Norwich The population in the Middle Ages may have The Reformation brought about the end is the product of over 1000 years of in the1090s leading to the construction of been as high as 30,000 people as Norwich of the monastic institutions and resulted in settlement. Although the main Roman the Anglican Cathedral and its supporting developed as a regional centre and an some of the sites becoming available for settlement in the area was at Caistor St monastery. Norwich’s street pattern still important market place. The wealth of the redevelopment. This allowed more intensive Edmund (Venta Icenorum) to the south refl ects the planned grid layout of the merchants allowed them to build impressive development within the city walls. of the city, one of the roads serving it Norman settlement in the area to the west houses in the city centre often with vaulted ran north to follow the line of what is of the castle, whilst the site of the present storage undercrofts beneath; these often Post Medieval today Oak Street / Ber Street in the heart day market place was established under survive even though the houses above have The economy of the City declined in the of Norwich. An east-west road Norman rule. been lost or redeveloped. sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, until (Holmstrete) crossed this and followed Dutch and Flemish ‘Strangers’ were invited the line of what is now St Benedict’s The focus of the town shifted to the area Most people, however, lived in timber to settle in the city and introduced new Street / Bishopgate, crossing the river at around the castle, with wealthy merchants framed buildings with thatched or shingle weaving and cloth fi nishing methods. The a ford near Bishop Bridge. erecting stone buildings, in particular in the roofs. These buildings were highly city became a centre for weaving and the Tombland, King Street and Market Place susceptible to fi re and in the C16 parts of houses associated with the cloth trade from The Saxon Town areas - the earliest surviving house within the the city were devastated by blazes leading to this period are characterised by large dormer The fi rst ‘urban’ settlement dates from the city being the Music House in King Street a restriction being imposed on the building windows (‘lucams’) which lit the top fl oor C8 and was developed by the Anglo- which dates from 1140. The southern part materials employed with roof tiles favoured weaving room. Saxons. This probably had two foci, one of the city remained a main focus for the instead of thatch. The fi res led to a major around Fishergate and one in the vicinity wealthy and for public buildings within rebuilding programme which allowed for The river remained the focus for trade and of present day Tombland and the Upper Norwich for a considerable period after more up-to-date designs with integral wealth in this period and consequently the Close. Danish occupation in the C9 saw Norman rule. chimneys and upper fl oors being intro- merchants’ houses were developed with a the construction of a ‘D’-shaped defensive duced earlier in Norwich than in other parts dual frontage, facing both the street and ditch. By the mid-C10, however, the main The Medieval City of England. the wharves of the river. Properties were focus of the city was the marketplace where The city walls, built from the mid-C13, developed in a courtyard format with large Tombland is today. are the most signifi cant legacy from the The ecclesiastical institutions also had a openings from the street to enable access for medieval period. They were funded by major infl uence on the form and horses and carts. Norman Norwich the wealthy merchants of the town and development of the city as their foundations Under Norman rule, Norwich became a ultimately comprised a masonry wall up to often covered large areas and included The infl uence of the Low Countries also major urban centre with a castle, cathedral 4 metres in height with 12 gates and up open land. In addition to the cathedral there spread to the building materials being and marketplace. The castle established to 40 towers, including the pair of boom were six friaries, together with medical employed. Flemish bricks were imported royal control over the city and had a towers on the river from which chains hospitals and colleges. The infl uence of before both bricks and pantiles were made series of outer ditches and banks still could be stretched to defend the city from these institutions in certain parts of the city locally. Brickfi elds were developed outside of traceable in the road network and terraced a waterborne attack and to regulate river can still be seen in the pattern and density of the city walls and fl int, sand and lime were surroundings. traffi c. development. all quarried locally.

PAGE 6 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

During this time, the city was a hot-bed of development of large industrial complexes of has been a continued programme of work dissent and many Nonconformist religious mills, breweries and factories, many of them carried out by the City Council and the groups developed as the laws outlawing close to the river. Norwich Preservation Trust to help return their meetings were relaxed. The Octagon historic buildings in the city centre back to Chapel, built in 1756, is a particularly Twentieth Century residential use. outstanding chapel from this period. The early years of the C20 saw the suburban expansion of the city and major campaigns Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries of slum clearance with blocks of apartments Between 1791 and 1810 the city gates and constructed. In 1938, a new civic complex large sections of the wall were removed comprising city hall and police and fi re because they were considered to make stations was completed. The city suffered the city unsanitary and were impeding signifi cant bomb damage, particularly to access. Although existing suburbs existed the south and north-west parts of the at Heigham, Bracondale and Pockthorpe city centre, during the Second World War in C18, much larger areas of housing were Baedeker raids. The evidence of post-War developed outside the remaining city walls commercial reconstruction is particularly during the C19, particularly for the middle apparent around the St Stephen’s Street and and artisan classes. Within the city walls St Crispin’s Road / Anglia Square areas. where land was scarcer, the existing courts became intensly inhabited by the very The rise in private car numbers led to the poor, with many former merchant houses development of the inner ring road in becoming slums or turned into factories. the late 1960s / early 1970s. This runs mostly outside the city walls except north The coming of the railway did not have of the river where St Crispin’s Road bisects a signifi cant impact on the layout of the Magdalen Street and Oak Street. Like most city centre as all the three train stations cities, Norwich was subjected to several were built outside the city walls. In order over-scaled developments in the 1960s and to provide a good road link to Thorpe 1970s which today sit uncomfortably with Station and improve east-west links, Prince the city’s more traditional buildings. Later of Wales Road was constructed. Further C20 developments have sought to highlight road widening and straightening was also the city’s role as a regional shopping and undertaken to accommodate trams later. cultural centre and to increase the housing stock within the city, as previous industrial The largest infl uence on the morphology uses cease and land becomes available for of the city centre at this time was the redevelopment. Since the 1970’s there

PAGE 7 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

Cowgate Cowgate

NORWIC

Fybrig Fybrig te Fisherga Fishergate gate gate

COSLANY

Holmstrete Holmstrete Holmstrete Colegate Colegate Cathedral Bishop Bridge

Tombland Tombland WESTWICK

CONESFORD

Market Place ’s Lane Castle

St. Faith

FRENCH BOROUGH

Con

esford gate Sand Southgate Strete

Berstr Berstr Berstr Music ete ete ete House

to Venta Saxon town Icenorum Norman Town Road

Road may have existed Road

Marshland Marshland Roman Era Defensive ditches New Norman settlements Possible allignment of defensive ditches Existing Saxon settlements

Marshland Church Jewish quarter

Roman road New Saxon settlements Church

PAGE 8 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

Fybriggate Gate St Augustine’s Gate Magdalen Gate Coslanye Gate St Martin’s Gate

Gildencroft Barregate Gate Pockthorpe Gate

White Friars Norman’s Snai Hospital Fybrig

lgate

gate Cow Tower

Great Hospital Helgate Muspolgate Heigham Gate Fishergate Bishop Gate Holmstrete

Colegate Cathedral

Westwyk Gate St. Benedict’s Gate Tombland Black Friars

Pottergate Grey Friars

Newport Gate Hoystergate St Gile’s Gate provision market Castle

St. Faith’s Lane

Austin Friars Chapel in the field

Sandgate ate

Berstr Southgate Nedham Gate Skeythg St Stephen’s Gate ete

Swinemarket Gate The Brazen Doors Holgate

Boom Medieval town Towers Berstrete Gate Conesford Gate King Street Gate Black Tower 1807 George Cole Road

City wall and gate

Open space

Existing settlements Jewish quarter Leper hospital 1880-86 OS Map Church Religious precinct

PAGE 9 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500

910 1004 1090 1226-90 1349-50 1404 Anglo- City burned Transfer of Religious orders Black Death reduces City becomes self Scandanavian and ravaged bishopric to arrive population by at governing ditch & bank by King Norwich least one third north of river Sweyn of Denmark Historical events

1086 Domesday Book: 1,320 burgesses Population circa 7500

Planned C13 C14 - C15 Norman Population 20,000+ Affluent elite control the city development around castle City development Mid C11 3rd largest east coast port

Tombland 1070s circa 1140 1249 1253-1344 1340s 1370 C15 established as a Castle built Music House (King Great Hospital City walls Bishop Bridewell built Stranger’s Hall built market Street) built founded constructed Bridge built 1407-13 1071-1075 Guildhall built Market established on current site 1440-70 St. Andrew’s Hall adapted from 1096 Dominican church on site Anglican C15 Cathedral Many city churches rebuilt

Impact of development foundation

PAGE 10 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORY & ARCHAEOLOGY

1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100

1507 1642-48 1791-1810 1844 1920s & 1930s Fires destroy 40% of English Civil War Main roads Railways arrive Slum clearance housing widened, 1850s & 1860s medieval gates 1942 1517-1540 More road widening demolished ‘Baedeker Raids’ Reformation leads to destroy numerous clearance of many Large areas of homes and factories religious institutions terrace housing built 1950s

Historical events 1578-9 & 1625-1665 1898-1900 Slum Plague kills over 4800 Introduction of clearance trams

C16 - C17 1700 1811 1901 2001 Norwich weaving trade revitalised Population 30,000 Population 36,049 Population 100,815 Population 200,000

1871 1951 Population 75,468 Population 110,633 City development

Late C16 1692 1755 1864 1884-1910 1962 2001 Gurney Court, Old Meeting Assembly House Prince of Wales Cathedral Church of St. Rouen Road Forum opened Magadalen Street House built established Road laid out John Baptist (R.C.) built laid out

1756 1937-38 1971 Octagon Chapel built City Hall built Anglia Square opened Early 1970s Inner Ring Road built Impact of development

PAGE 11 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL CURRENT & FORMER USES

Current & Former uses By the time of the later Saxon and Up to the outbreak of the Black Death in Street and saddles on White Lion Street. Norwich appears to have recovered quickly Anglo-Scandinavian periods, Norwich the mid-C14, Norwich continued to thrive. Wensum Street housed the various cooks from the effects of the Black Death and was already a market centre and Much commercial and industrial activity and food shops. by the late C14, the leading merchants in trading post with links to the Low was along the waterfront. Not surprisingly the city were able to build fi ne new houses Countries and Rhineland which were as fi shermen were based there with fi sh houses The majority of this development was of for themselves and were the driving-force important as those to London before the known to have existed off King Street, close course within the confi nes of the city walls behind the town’s growing ‘civic’ pride and establishment of the turnpike roads. The to the Cathedral and on Quayside itself. which were commenced probably in 1253 purpose. This resulted in the building of a areas around Colegate and Fishergate However from the C13 onwards other trades but not completed until 1344. The walled town quay, the completion of the city walls and around St Martin at Palace Plain began to colonise the riverside with tanners, town did, however, include open areas (and erection of the Cow Tower) the erection and Whitefriars Bridge were used for fullers, bleachers and dyers each having their such as the castle ditches which were used of a cloth hall north of the Market Place and the loading and unloading of goods own section of the river. Dyestuffs were for livestock grazing and Gildencroft, 12 ultimately the outstanding Guildhall on the and for boat building. Flint and lime sold in Maddermarket whilst shearmen, who acres of open land which was in part used site of the market toll house By 1404 the were extracted for building and iron ore clipped the nap on the cloth, were mostly for jousting. The Cathedral Close included town was given the power to self-govern. was brought in by river and worked at located on Charing Cross. summer pasture whilst open land in St Giles St Faith’s Lane and Oak Street. Comb- parish was used as a tenterground. The town continued to be a major industrial making was carried out off Fishergate Leatherworkers were even more numerous. centre – based particularly on the textile and and St Faith’s Lane and antler-working Skinners, tanners and tawyers competed Religious institutions also began to colonise leatherworking trades. Norwich also began off King Street. There is also evidence for space adjacent to the river, whilst the town. The Franciscans arrived in 1226 to develop more specialised industries such of leatherworking around the riverside leatherdressers congregated in St Giles occupying a large site where Prince of Wales as glass painting whilst the Timberhill area sites together with jewellery-making, parish with cordwainers in the Market Road stands. The Domincans also arrived was a centre of bell-founding in the C15. woodworking and potting, the latter Place. In total 68 other crafts and trades in 1226 and settled off Colegate. They The Black (Dominican) Friars carried out a concentrated around Bedford Street could be found in Norwich at this time, acquired a site south of the river after 1307, large building campaign at St Andrews in (historically known as Pottergate). commensurate with Norwich’s status as much of which still survives as St Andrew’s the C15, as did the Great Hospital and the England’s second city. and Blackfriar’s Halls (although many Cathedral where the Erpingham Gate was Norwich also began to establish itself as buildings are of the C15). The Carmelites constructed. The continuing importance a place where cloth was brought to be Goods were also imported both from established their friary in 1256 north of of Norwich as a trading and administrative dyed and fi nished. Following the Norman the local area and from across the North Whitefriars Bridge whilst the Austin Friars centre is evidenced by the presence of 42 Conquest the extensive market was Sea. Consequently an impressive range of arrived in 1290 on a site off King Street. houses attached to ecclesiastical institutions developed and between the Castle and foodstuffs, clothing, jewellery, metal goods based elsewhere in the country, and by other the French Borough was a Jewry, though and medicines could be bought from the The Great Hospital was founded in the C13 houses and land owned by wealthy rural wealthy Jews also lived elsewhere; the Market Place. In addition, other areas of the as a home for poor priests on part of the gentry. Music House on King Street being the most town specialised in the sales of particular Cathedral pasture land, and at a similar time outstanding example. commodities – with markets for swine and the College of St Mary in the Fields was The C16 saw great change in the city, due to then timber on All Saints Green, swine on founded, part of which still survives beneath extensive fi res in 1507 and the Reformation, Orford Hill, horses on Rampant Horse the Assembly House. both of which released land for new building

PAGE 12 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL CURRENT & FORMER USES

or redevelopment. The ‘Strangers’, who completely successful. By now, Norwich was destination. The shopping ‘offer’ has Offi ces and other employment are quite revolutionised the cloth trade, established being surpassed by West Yorkshire as the been increased in recent years with Castle widespread throughout the central area. communities around Colegate and from the country’s textile centre, though it diversifi ed Mall and Chapelfi elds supplementing the The main concentrations, particularly of upper fl oors of their homes wove the cloth to produce more specialist goods such as traditional shopping areas around the large-scale modern offi ce developments, which had previously been imported from crapes and silks. The manufacture of boots market and St Stephen’s Street. ‘The Lanes’ are along Surrey Street, Prince of Wales Road rural villages. and shoes and other leather goods remained area has developed as the base for specialist and around St Crispins Road. The latter very important (with over 7000 employed in shops with other shopping areas along the includes the now-empty Sovereign House to The rapid increase in the population of the trade in 1901). Many were employed western end of St Giles Street, St Benedict’s the south of Anglia Square. Norwich during the C16 and C17 meant in the large factories such as Norvic on Street, Elm Hill and the stretch of Magdalen that the city remained a major regional Colegate, whilst others worked from smaller Street south of the river. The northern part The Cathedral continues to dominate the market and the export of textiles continued workshops. of Magdalen Street, Anglia Square and St area east of Tombland where the open space to be an important source of wealth. Augustine’s Street are an important local and generally low-density of development Leather- and horn-working also remained By the mid C19 there were 17 brewers in district shopping area serving the northern provides a refuge from the bustle of the city important whilst by the C18 banking and Norwich. None are still active though parts part of the city centre. centre outside the gates. The city still has insurance became expanding facets of the of the Bullard brewery on Coslany Street more than thirty surviving medieval churches, city’s economy. survive, now converted to housing. Other The city is also an important recreational and several C18 and C19 chapels. Although food manufactures included Colmans, base and this too has been enhanced in many of these have now been converted to By the early C19, the destruction of the who have operated outside the city wall at recent years with developments such as The new uses, they remain important with the town gates allowed for major extra-mural Carrow since 1850’s, and Read Mills (fl our), Forum. Key recreational areas, in addition city’s townscape and skyline. developments. Within the city, the courtyard who took over a former factory formerly to the principal shopping areas, include the houses, typical of Norwich, were subdivided used for Yarn production on King Street, area around Bethel Street, the area between Some signifi cant areas of open space remain and extended leading to very unsanitary and now converted to housing. The Boulton Ber Street, King Street and around Duke in the city centre. The largest is within the conditions. Planned developments of better and Paul Company which manufactured a Street. The focus of Norwich’s night-time Cathedral Close where much of the land quality housing were constructed including range of products from windows to aircraft economy is around Prince of Wales Road and is school playing fi elds. The major central terraced housing for the middle classes and airship frames was established in the Tombland. public parks include the Castle Green, and on Sussex Street. Other terraced houses 1860s off Rose Lane and expanded to fi ll Chapelfi elds Gardens with smaller but followed within the old line of the city walls a very large site between Rose Lane and The city has lost much of its industrial base important areas being at Gildencroft, the – including those on Magpie Road and Bull Mountergate. Numerous other large-scale in recent years with the majority of sites Riverside Walk (especially around the Cow Close Road where the city wall was toppled industrial fi rms, including iron works, vinegar being redeveloped for housing. The only Tower) and the wooded slopes off Rouen to form the platform for the new houses. distilleries and malt houses all occupied sites signifi cant area of industrial activity within Road. within the original walled town. the central area at present is between the The manufacture of textiles continued into north bank of the river and Barrack Street the C19, including the construction of Today the city centre remains the key retail with other small areas around Anglia the architecturally distinguished St James centre for the hinterland and beyond Square. Mill, however this operation was never and is an increasingly important tourist

PAGE 13 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL CURRENT & FORMER USES

Saxon and Norman uses

Saxon Period 9 2 1. Gravel extraction/Iron working 2. Flint & lime extraction

10 3. Combmaking 4. Riverside trading/boat building/jewellery 3 making and leatherworking 1 5. Pottery 4 6. Flint & lime extraction/combmaking/iron 11 making 14 7. Antler-working 8 8. Market (Tombland)

12 5 Norman Period 6 9. Hornworking 10. Hornworking 11. Food shops/cooks 13 15 12. Hornworking 13. Market Place 14. Cathedral Close 15. Castle

Saxon settlements 7 Norman settlements

Saxon uses

Norman uses

Religious institutions

PAGE 14 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL CURRENT & FORMER USES

14

18

Medieval uses

Industry Religious Institutions 1. Fish houses 17. Franciscans (Grey Friars) 2. Tanners, fullers, bleachers & dyers 18. Dominicans (off Colegate) 3. Dyestuffs 19. Dominicans (Black Friars) 4. Shearmen 20. Carmelites (White Friars) 5. Leatherdressers 21. Austin Friars 6. Cordwainers 22. Great Hospital 7. Bell foundry 23. Cathedral Precinct

Market Civic 8. Market Place 24. Cloth hall, later Guildhall 9. Swine, later timber 10. Swine 11. Horses 12. Saddles Civic 13. Cooks & food shops Industry Pastures & open space Market 14. Jousting 15. Summer pasture Pastures and open spaces 16. Tenterground Religious institutions

PAGE 15 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL CURRENT & FORMER USES

Nineteenth century uses 15

Railway stations Saw mills 1. Thorpe 18. Saw mill 4 3 2. Victoria 19. Saw mill 14 9 3. City 19 Distilleries & vinegar factories

8 Industry 20. Distillery & vinegar works 21 7 18 4. St. James’ Mill 21. Vinegar factory 17 5. Colman’s Factory 11 6. Read Mills (Albion Mills) Other industry 22. Timber yard Boot & shoe factories 7. Norvic Boot & Shoe Factory Shopping & markets 20 8. Boot & shoe factory 23. Cattle market 25 9. Boot & shoe factory 24. Horse market 25. Royal Arcade 24 10 10. Boot & shoe factory 23 22 1 16 Breweries 11. Bullard (Anchor) Brewery Others 13 12. Crown Brewery 26. Barracks 13. King Street Old Brewery

Crape manufactories Industrial area 26 12 14. Crape manufactory 2 15. Crape manufactory 6 Iron works

5 16. Boulton & Paul Company (Rose Lane Works) 17. Iron works

PAGE 16 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL CITY LANDMARKS

Burges Road

Mousehold Heath

City Landmarks

The location of much of central Norwich the Conservation Area north of St Crispins B on the slopes of the river valley means Road. Some churches, such as St Mary Ketts Hill that views of some of its taller buildings, Coslany with its round tower, are or those located on higher ground, architecturally distinctive. become important and picturesque landmarks visible from vantage points Some of the taller modern buildings are 2 and useful when orientating oneself out of scale and have a blocky silhouette around the city. The main landmarks, in compared to their more traditional neigh- the city are: bours. These are considered to be negative 6 A 3 5 1 landmarks and are identifi ed on the map as 4 • The Castle (No. 1 on the map) follows: F E • The Anglican Cathedral (No. 2) • Grosvenor House (A) G • The Roman Catholic Cathedral (No. 3) • Anglia Square (B) C • St Peter Mancroft Church (No. 4) • Norfolk Tower (C) D • The City Hall Clock Tower (No. 5) • Normandie Tower (D) • St Giles on the Hill Church (No. 6) • Westlegate Tower (E) Key green space Figure 3.1 The Norwich Local Plan also iden- • Winchester Tower (F) City wide landmark tifi es several other buildings as being Key • St Stephen’s Street Towers (G) Buildings / Landmarks. These include the Negative landmark majority of the city’s medieval churches to- Views gether with buildings such as St James Mill. These buildings tend to be very important in their local area. St Augustine’s is important as the only surviving medieval church within

PAGE 17 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL BUILDING MATERIALS & TYPES

Building Materials

Red Brick particularly fi ne examples on the Guildhall, Red brick is the most frequently used the Bridewell and on several churches building material in Norwich and became including St Michael Coslany. The fi nest fl int particularly popular from the C16 after has square ‘knapped’ fl ints laid to course, extensive fi res prompted the use of less galleting (where small fl akes are pressed combustible materials than timber-framing into the mortar to hide the mortar joints) in towns and cities. As brick became more or ‘fl ushwork’ where the stonework is cut fashionable, timber-framed buildings were away to be fi lled by knapped fl ints. Flint was refaced in brick. Norwich has a particularly often reused and uncoursed fl int rubble was fi ne legacy of ‘polite’ red brick Georgian used for vernacular buildings into the C19. houses and was renowned for its gauged brickwork (with very fi ne mortar joints) Stone Red brick (gauged) White brick which by the end of the C19 could even Norwich lacks a local source of freestone. House on Sussex Street Opie Street be found on quite modest terraced houses. The stone on the cathedral is from Caen Timber front on brick and fl int base Red brick continued to be popular in the in France, Purbeck and Clipsham. Other Gildencroft later C19 and earlier C20 and remains churches often utilised the nearest stone popular particularly for new housing quarries on the Northamptonshire / developments today. Lincolnshire border. By the C19, the railways allowed heavy materials to be transported White and Gault Brick and stone became popular for commercial White brick buildings were particularly and public buildings in the city. popular in Norwich from the early to mid- C19. George Gunton’s Costessey Works Timber Framing produced white bricks from the 1830s until Timber ‘box-framing’ was the cheapest the outbreak of World War 1. Some later and most convenient way of constructing C19 examples can also be found though buildings in the city. Much timber framing by the end of the century red brick re- in Norwich is restricted to the fi rst fl oor of established its pre-eminence. buildings with the ground fl oor formed of fl int and brick rubble or even, on occasions, Flint stone reused from demolished ecclesiastical Flint was historically the principal building buildings. The earliest surviving example of material for prestige buildings in the city a fi rst fl oor timber frame is at Dragon Hall. and was extracted locally. The peak of Most of the timber frames are jettied, some the craft of fl intworking was the C15 such as the Briton’s Arms are jettied on two (with a revival in the C19) and there are fl oors and two fl anks. Although timber

PAGE 18 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL BUILDING MATERIALS & TYPES

Flintwork Plaster and render Pantiles Welsh slate St Michael Coslany, Colegate Elm Hill Rear of Elm Hill 57 The Close frames can be found dating from the C19, Other walling materials Plain tiles Thatch generally their use declined after the C16 Norwich has some good examples of the Plain tiles are as old as bricks and were often Unusually for a city, Norwich still has six when fi re ravaged parts of the city. use of other materials. This includes the fi ne fi red in the same kilns. Their use therefore buildings in the central area with thatched C19 cast iron and glass façade of Crystal predates the use of pantiles. Initially they roofs. Although thatch was cheap and Plasterwork and render House, an unusual concrete urinal of 1919 were used instead of thatch on the best therefore popular for use on humbler The vast majority of surviving vernacular and the sumptuous faience tiling of the houses and gradually became popular dwellings, major fi res in the C16 meant buildings from the C17 and earlier are Royal Arcade, built in 1899. on lesser buildings. The majority of the that it became unpopular and was indeed rendered over the timber framing. Most of examples visible in Norwich today probably outlawed in many other towns. these were limewashed in a variety of colours Pantiles date from the C19 onwards though there and this varied palette is a key characteristic Pantiles were probably fi rst brought to the are some earlier examples off Bethel Street Sheet metal of many of the city’s streets – Elm Hill being area by Dutch settlers in the C17. Those and on Elm Hill. Several examples can also Sheet lead and copper are most commonly perhaps the best example. In the 1960s streets visible today probably date from the C18 be seen within the Cathedral Close. found on churches and ecclesiastical such as Magdalen Street were repainted in onwards with many manufactured locally. buildings, or for covering shallow-pitched suitable colours (and refreshed in the 1990s). The majority have their natural clay fi nish Welsh slate or awkwardly-shaped parts of roofs on The City Council has published an Historic but from the C18, and used with growing Improvements in transportation, culminating domestic buildings. Some modern buildings Colour Strategy to ensure appropriate hues popularity from the mid-C19 onwards, black in the arrival of the railways in the C19, are roofed in modern variations such as continue to be used. Unlike many towns, glazed or ‘smut’ pantiles became popular. led to the increasing use of Welsh Slate for terne-coated steel. Norwich’s C18 buildings do not make Occasionally black tiles are found on the roofs. Ornamental slates were often used extensive use of stucco – this is generally used fronts and red to the rear. to great effect particularly on Gothic Revival for detailing such as quoins, stringcourses and buildings of the later C19. window heads rather than for whole façades.

PAGE 19 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL BUILDING MATERIALS & TYPES

Timeline: Architectural Periods and use of materials

1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800 1900 2000 2100

Norman Gothic Tudor & Georgian Elizabethan Victorian Victorian Jacobean Stuart Regency Edwardian Baroque

Stone Stone

Flint

Render

Red Brick

White Brick

Thatch

Plain Plain Tiles Tiles

Pantiles

Slate

Timber

PAGE 20 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL BUILDING MATERIALS & TYPES

Building Types

Like most cities, Norwich has a range of different building types which have developed over the last thousand years. This section aims to give a snap-shot of some of the most interesting individual Monastic Buildings buildings or representative examples of types Blackfriars (now Art School) of building. The buildings are arranged broadly chronologically. Further details on some of the buildings may be found in the individual character area studies in the Castle second part of this document. Norman Castle, Castle Meadow Hospitals Great Hospital, Bishopgate Cathedral Anglican Cathedral, The Close Medieval Church St Michael at Plea, Queen Street

City Wall Wall at Chapelfi eld Rd Early Educational Building The Chapel, Carnary College

PAGE 21 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL BUILDING MATERIALS & TYPES

Merchants Houses Courtyard House C18 and C19 Chapels and Churches Dragon Hall, King Street 135 Magdalen Street Jesuit Chapel, Willow Lane (1827-28) Early Civic and Cultural Buildings Georgian Houses C18 and C19 Chapels and Churches The Guildhall, Guildhall Hill Churchman’s House, Upper St Giles Street Octagon Chapel, Colegate (1754-56)

PAGE 22 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL BUILDING MATERIALS & TYPES

C19 Villas Early C19 Terrace Chapel Field North Sussex Street C21 Civic and Cultural The Forum Almshouses Doughty’s Hospital, Golden Dog Lane C19 Commercial 1930s Apartment Crystal House, Cattle Market Street Bargate Court, Barrack Street

PAGE 23 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORIC PUBLIC REALM

Historic public realm materials

Paving streetscape enhancement works these Evidence of the existence of many of the churchyards, private gardens and public Historic paving is an important characteristic kerbs have often been re-laid as drainage metal railings removed during WW2 can parks and open spaces, together with of the Conservation Area and many channels. still be seen in the stone cappings on walls occasional street tree planting, such as in examples can still be found, notably: surrounding many churchyards. Elm Hill, make positive contributions to the Slabs townscape quality. Cobbles York stone was imported and used in most Street furniture From old illustrations it is likely that the important places, such as the Cathedral Many items of street furniture have been Statues/Memorials earliest ‘hard’ paving material used in the precincts and on the footways of the most introduced to meet modern needs, or In addition to the memorial gardens, city centre was the locally available fl int prestigious streets. have a limited life and so little of historical there are a number of formal statues cobbles. These were extensively used on importance is to be found. The most and memorials in the city centre which streets to pave carriageways and squares. Other materials important surviving features within the commemorate events and people associated Today extensive areas of cobble paving Other historic paving materials include in-situ public realm, many of which are listed with the city and several of these are listed, remain, for example on the carriageway granolithic concrete paving, probably dating include: notably: in Elm Hill and on the pedestrian areas in from the turn of the century, for example in Tombland. In addition, cobbles can still be St George’s Street south of Colegate. The • Bollards – opposite Strangers Hall • Agricultural Hall Plain – Boer War seen in many lanes and alleys where they are use of tarmacadam became widespread in Museum, St John’s Alley and St memorial used to fi ll the areas between slab paving the late C19 with the arrival of the steam Clement’s Alley • The Close – Wellington and Nelson and buildings. roller and the mechanical stone crusher. • Post boxes – Gentleman’s Walk, St • Hay Hill - Sir Thomas Browne Peters Street and King Street Setts Boundary treatments • Tombland (near Erpingham Gate) To ease the movement of goods by horse Property boundaries between private land • K6 telephone kiosks – Magdalen Street, – Edith Cavell drawn cart, imported setts (mostly red/ and the public realm formed by walls, St Andrew’s Street, St Gregory’s Alley, brown) were extensively used on busy railings, and gates add interest to streets Weavers Lane and Tombland Evolving public realm thoroughfares in the C18 and C19 and can and allow glimpses of what is beyond. The • Water pump – St John Maddermarket The enhancement of the city’s public realm be seen in many streets in the city centre. ornate stone surround on St Faiths Lane • St Lawrence’s (Gybson’s) Well, is a continual process as it adapts to meet Setts were also used as footway crossovers marks the entrance to the James Stuart Westwick Street changing needs. In 1967 London Street into yards and commercial properties as they Gardens and provides a focal point in the was the fi rst to be pedestrianised in England • Gas light columns – Bank Street were less vulnerable to damage than paving streetscene. and the increasing emphasis on pedestrian slabs. • Cast Iron Street nameplates priority has seen further streets completely Many examples of historic fl int and brick or partially closed to motor vehicles, Kerbs walls survive and serve as a reminder of what Trees carriageways resurfaced, footways widened, Granite kerbs are still much in evidence was once behind. The tall and impressive There are few streets in the city centre where new street furniture installed, the addition of in the city centre and in some streets the walls of the former factory on Mountergate there is historical evidence of tree planting public art and street tree planting. kerbs are laid with a wide face uppermost are all that survives of the now demolished in the form of avenues with Market Avenue emphasising their importance. In recent works behind. being a rare example. Tree planting within

PAGE 24 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL HISTORIC PUBLIC REALM

1a 1b 1. Flint cobble carriageway, granite kerb, Yorkstone paving Elm Hill 1b. Relaid setts and drainage channel Lobster Lane

6 7

4 6. “Norwich Bollard” Various 7. Bronze handrail and stonesteps Market Place 4. Relaid granite setts and kerb King Street 8. Sir Thomas Browne Hay Hill 5. Cast iron railings St Laurence’s Church, St Benedict’s Street 9. Postbox St Peter’s Street

10. Street tree planting Market Avenue

2 2. Granite sett crossover Elm Hill

3a. Granite sett carriageway St Faiths Lane 3b. Cobbles, setts, granite Erphingham Gateway

3a 3b 5

PAGE 25 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL POLICIES & GUIDELINES

Policies and Guidelines

This section sets out the key 8. Chapelfi eld Gardens civic park Cathedral, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles’ of management plans for churchyards characteristics of the city together with 9. Upper Close and Lower Close in the Church and the City Hall clock tower and other important open spaces will policies and guidance to protect them; Cathedral precinct 23. Important views of Local Landmarks be encouraged by the City Council. All the relevant Local Plan policies and – Medieval churches, the Guildhall, other proposals for landscaping schemes and other Supplementary Planning Documents are works in important spaces must be based Historical Development & Uses prominent buildings identifi ed. Each character area appraisal upon these management plans and must contains further details which set out 10. The Saxon market (Tombland) Building Materials & Details consider the impact on the setting of any how these policies should be applied in 11. The Norman castle listed buildings such as the Churches. each character area. 24. Widespread use of red brick after C16, 12. The Cathedral but predominantly used for Georgian and All churchyards, many parks and some Key to how each policy is applied to each 13. The market place C19 residential and commercial buildings other open spaces would have originally character area is the defi ned signifi cance of 14. Medieval churches 25. Natural clay pantiles from C18 been enclosed by walls or railings, but these onwards, ‘smut’ pantiles from the mid-C19 each area. This is explained further on page 32. 15. Remains of the medieval city walls and have often been removed (usually during onwards gates, friaries and churches the Second World War). Preservation is HEART, The Norwich Heritage Economic and 26. Fine fl intwork exhibited on medieval the priority for any remaining traditional 16. Medieval courtyard houses and survival Regeneration Trust, has produced a number of churches, Cathedral gates and Guildhall boundary treatments of high quality, of old yards documents on heritage management in the city. 27. Stone only used for Cathedral, the and the City Council will encourage the 17. Surviving monastic institutions and See www.heritagecity.org for further details. castle and prestige C19 buildings reinstatement of boundary treatments where those subsumed into new buildings appropriate and where historical evidence 28. Timber framed and jettied buildings Key Characteristics exists: 18. C19 industrial complexes along or near common until C16, and some built until C19 the riverside Topography & Landscape Framework 29. Oversized dormer windows (Lucams) 1.1 In areas of Very High and High which lit weavers’ rooms 1. The River Wensum’s open functional Morphology signifi cance, traditional styles and fl oodplain in Cathedral Close 30. Historic paving materials should predominantly be used 19. Tight intimate network of streets and for boundary treatments, based on 2. The River Wensum and its tributary 31. Historic shopfronts alleys historical evidence where it exists. High streams (cockeys) 20. Long straight Roman roads Policies and Guidelines quality contemporary designs and/or 3. Well-wooded ridges bordering the River 21. Grid street framework with widened materials will be encouraged where Wensum creating ‘a city in an orchard’ main streets crossed by narrower secondary A Topography & Landscape Framework there is no precedent or evidence of 4. Hilliness of city streets 1. Protection and management of boundary treatments. 5. Riverside walks in central medieval city churchyards, parks and public open spaces City Landmarks 1.2 In Signifi cant areas, traditional or 6. Green oases of medieval churchyards LP: NE 8, HBE 10 & 15, SR 3 & 8 contemporary styles and materials 7. Open ‘plains’ and market spaces at the 22. Citywide views of the City Landmarks To maximise the benefi t to biodiversity should be used according to the context junctions of streets and in front of churches – Castle, Cathedral, Roman Catholic and local communities the production in which the open space sits. If the

PAGE 26 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL POLICIES & GUIDELINES

surrounding context is predominantly the current situation, and to inform for use elsewhere in the City. To prevent retained. Alterations to the building line historic, traditional styles and/or future decisions about their retention and damage during construction, historic paving will only be considered where there is materials may be appropriate, and in a maintenance. In principle, however, the should either be adequately protected in clear public benefi t in doing so. more modern context, contemporary following guidance should be followed: situ or carefully removed and stored for later styles and/or materials will be re-use. Where new street furniture is being 2.3 In Signifi cant areas, historic building appropriate. 1.1 In areas of Very High signifi cance, installed street clutter should be avoided. In lines should be reinstated where historic paving, ironwork and street some cases furniture may be removed if it is historical cartographic evidence exists 1.3 In areas of Low signifi cance, a furniture must be preserved and used considered unneccessary. and their reinstatement would not contemporary approach will normally be as the basis for reinstatement. New adversely affect the current townscape encouraged. areas of paving should use the same New paving schemes will consider the use of or functioning of an area. Existing traditional palette of materials. High cobbles and other uneven surface materials historic street patterns should be 2. Respecting the topography/gradient quality contemporary materials will carefully, to ensure access for all. retained in development proposals. in new developments only be considered if there is a strong LP: HBE 12, 13 & 15 practical argument for their use in lieu 2. Retaining historic street patterns 2.4 In areas of Low signifi cance, historic of traditional materials. and reinstating building lines building lines must be reinstated New developments should seek to respect LP: HBE 6, 8, 12 & 15, TRA 5 & 8 according to cartographic and visual 1.2 In areas of High signifi cance, historic and enhance the topography of the site evidence, unless the proposals create a paving, ironwork and street furniture through careful positioning of buildings, Some areas, particularly those of lower well- designed alternative layout. should also be preserved and varying roof heights and using the slope to signifi cance, have lost their historic street predominantly used in new areas of create townscape interest. These aspects patterns through large-scale redevelopment 3. Preventing vehicle damage to paving. If, however, very little evidence should be investigated as part of the Design (in situ or documentary) of historic or incremental change over the years. As historic buildings, features and paving and Access Statement preparation. paving and ironwork exists, a high a result, some areas are not very legible, quality contemporary approach may be and important visual and historical links Historic paving and buildings on street B Morphology and Streetscape appropriate. have been lost. In areas of high townscape corners, buildings with jettied upper storeys 1. Historic Paving materials and street quality, the retention and enhancement of or those with canopies, signs, etc. are furniture 1.3 In Signifi cant areas and areas of Low the existing street pattern is important. particularly vulnerable to damage, especially LP: HBE 18, TVA 8, TRA 26 & 27; signifi cance, unless clear evidence of by manoeuvring large vehicles. Measures Streetscape Design Manual historic paving, ironwork or street 2.1 In areas of Very High signifi cance, the should be investigated to minimise this risk furniture exists, a contemporary and existing historic street pattern must be through traffi c restriction policies, careful Historic paving materials, associated unifi ed approach will be encouraged retained and redevelopment proposals modifi cations to the carriageway and kerbs, ironwork and street furniture are an in order to improve the public realm of should respect the existing building line or sensitively relocating street furniture important characteristic of the City and these areas. or rectify previous mistakes. without adding unnecessary street clutter. should be preserved wherever possible. A detailed audit of the extent, type and Within development sites, historic paving 2.2 In areas of High signifi cance, the existing condition should be undertaken to record that cannot be used should be salvaged historic street pattern must again be

PAGE 27 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL POLICIES & GUIDELINES

4. Enhancing the setting of the city involves cladding them in more appropriate St Peter Mancroft, City Hall and St Giles’ appropriate lighting of the streets, spaces gates/walls materials, remodelling them to improve their Church, will not be approved. and landmarks to ensure that they remain LP: HBE 1, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 & 16, TVA 8, 9 appearance and silhouette, or ideally, their visible and safe for night-time users of the & 27; SPD – Heritage Interpretation demolition and appropriate redevelopment Care will be taken to ensure that new street City centre. will be encouraged. planting does not obscure the views of the The City Gates and Walls are an important citywide landmarks. This will require care D Development Form characteristic of the City but their setting has 1.1 There are very few negative landmarks in the location and selection of appropriate 1. Design of new buildings been eroded by the construction of the inner in areas of Very High and High species which can be managed to maintain LP: HBE 8, 9, 12 & 17 Ring Road which follows the line of the walls signifi cance, but where there are and enhance important views. for most of its route. negative landmarks or where they A high quality standard of design will be are highly visible from these areas, Redevelopment proposals which block expected from all development proposals Development proposals in the vicinity of the their demolition and appropriate or detrimentally affect views of a local in order to improve low quality areas and walls will be expected to include works for redevelopment will be strongly landmark identifi ed in the Character Area to complement existing high quality areas. the enhancement and interpretation of the encouraged unless there are sound Appraisals will not be approved unless there A contemporary approach will always be walls as part of the scheme. This should sustainability or other public benefi ts are over-riding public benefi ts arising from encouraged particularly in areas of Low be easily accessible for all members of the supporting their retention. the proposed development or compensatory signifi cance, but if a traditional approach community. views of the local landmark can be created is considered more appropriate, the archi- 1.2 In Signifi cant areas or areas of Low elsewhere. tectural detail and proportions must be faith- Where damage by vehicles or vandalism is signifi cance, unless negative landmarks ful to the architectural style and period used. a regular occurrence, consideration should have a signifi cantly detrimental effect In areas where there is the potential for large be given to suitably-designed protection on the setting of areas of higher scale redevelopment the opportunity should 2. Appropriate scale of new buildings measures. Appropriate interpretation should signifi cance, their retention may be be taken to create views of citywide and LP: HBE 12 & 13 also be provided to compensate for the loss acceptable if they can be attractively re- local landmarks in order to visually link the of full public access. clad or remodelled and these works are area to the rest of the City centre. The scale of development proposals in the more sustainable than demolition and City must respect their context and be of replacement. 3. Enhancing the perception of the city an appropriate scale to their localities. All C Views & Landmarks at night schemes are site-specifi c, but the following 1. Removal of negative landmarks 2. Preserving and enhancing views of LP: HBE 9 & 16, SR 8 general guidance should be followed: LP: HBE 12 citywide and local landmarks The Character Area Appraisals identify a LP: HBE 13 The perception of the City at night is an 2.1 In areas of Very High and High signi- number of buildings throughout the City important dimension of the character of fi cance, new development should respect as negative landmarks. They detract from Redevelopment proposals which will block the Conservation Area and the night time the prevailing scale of existing traditional the character of the area and are visually or detrimentally affect views of the citywide economy contributes to its vitality and buildings and enhance or maintain views obtrusive, often due to their large scale landmarks, i.e. the Castle, the Anglican viability. The City Council will work with the of citywide and local landmarks and the and bulky form. Development which Cathedral, Roman Catholic Cathedral, County Council and others to encourage the wider townscape character.

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2.2 In Signifi cant areas and areas of Low central open space behind them, around 6. Roof-top plant cooling, insulation, drainage and water signifi cance, the prevailing scale of which the other ranges and buildings of the LP: HBE8, 12 & 17 requirements of the development. The existing traditional buildings should be house are arranged. It is important that this sustainable nature of new development respected, but the careful siting of taller distinctive design tradition is maintained in Roof-top plant should be avoided wherever should be an integral part of its design and buildings and use of larger scaled new development in locations where this possible. In development proposals where appearance. buildings in appropriate locations will be form of development is common. The street roof-top plant is unavoidable it should be encouraged, provided that they do not access to the rear buildings and ranges must well designed, discreetly located, designed 7.1 In areas of Very High and High negatively impact on important views of also be carefully designed, refl ecting the as part of the building and accurately shown signifi cance, the installation of physical citywide and local landmarks or affect local tradition and detailing. on any application submission. Applications measures such as solar panels and wind the setting of Listed Buildings. showing only vague outlines of prospective turbines will only be permitted on rear 5. Providing disabled access roof-top plant enclosures will not be roof pitches, and only if they are not 3. Integration with context/grain LP: HBE 19, TRA 14; Streetscape Design registered. The impact of roof-top plant on visible from public areas. LP: HBE 12 Manual the skyline of the proposed building(s), on key views within the City and on the wider 7.2 In Signifi cant areas or areas of Low Most types of planning application (including When considering alterations to historic townscape, must be fully evaluated in any signifi cance, innovative and unusual Listed Building Consent and Conservation buildings, opportunities to improve the application. designs which visually demonstrate the Area Consent) now require a Design accessibility of the structure to all sections ‘sustainability’ of new buildings will be and Access Statement to be submitted. of the community should be considered. 7. Sustainable development encouraged, provided that they enhance These statements must demonstrate how Whilst there can be a confl ict between the LP: HBE 8, EP19 & 20 the appearance of the Conservation Area. the development proposal respects the surrounding buildings, landscape features retention of historic fabric and improving and movement routes, and how it therefore accessibility, with careful design and a The impacts of climate change are far- E Materials & Details integrates with its surroundings. This is holistic consideration of the building and reaching and affect the existing built equally important for small infi ll schemes of its setting, it is usually possible to improve environment as much as new development. 1. Building Materials in new perhaps only one building, and large scale accessibility. Similar considerations need to Adapting and ‘climate-proofi ng’ both development redevelopment proposals. In the case of the be taken on board when designing in the existing and new buildings will have a LP: HBE 12 & 17, EP20 latter, however, it may be a case of showing public realm to ensure that, for example, signifi cant impact on the visual quality of The re-use of building materials from how the proposals will be reinstating a ‘lost’ surfacing materials in the streets respect the the environment. However, such measures demolished buildings will be encouraged, context or urban grain. historic character of the place yet are easy will be encouraged in both new and existing particularly in areas where this tradition to negotiate for those with visual or mobility development provided that they integrate already exists. New (contemporary and 4. Development form behind street impairments for example. English Heritage with their context and do not harm the traditional) building materials should always frontages has produced two documents ‘Streets for special character of the Conservation Area. be sourced locally whenever possible, in LP: HBE 12 all’ and ‘Easy Access to Historic Properties’ New development must consider the order to maintain local distinctiveness and to which provide further guidance on such location, site layout, orientation of buildings, reduce travel distances. Norwich has a tradition of courtyard houses, matters. outdoor spaces and the connectivity of their where street fronting buildings have a proposals together with the ventilation and

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1.1 In areas of Very High and High is also applicable for new public houses and original building. Hanging signs should be character of the original building must signifi cance, traditional building shops or when an existing pub or shop front of a similar character to the fascia sign and still be respected and colours and materials should predominantly be is beyond repair: no more than one hanging sign on each materials that are out of character used, albeit often in a contemporary shopfront elevation of a building will be with the building or areas will not architectural style. The use of 2.1 In areas of Very High and High permitted. Illuminated box signs will not be be permitted. Individualistic 3- contemporary materials should be signifi cance, a traditional approach to acceptable, and illumination of signs should dimensional signs relating to the goods limited to situations where their use the design and/or materials of new be discreet and relatively subdued. On or services supplied will be encouraged. would help create a building or feature pub and shop fronts should be taken. hanging signs, the illumination should be Illumination should still be kept to a of clear townscape quality which would Exceptions will only be considered for discreetly attached to the bracket. minimum and the light level should further enhance the quality of the area. new buildings if it can be demonstrated remain constant. that the shop front design is of a high 3.1 In areas of Very High signifi cance, 1.2 In Signifi cant areas and areas of standard and integral to an overall only individually mounted or applied 4. Reuse of historic buildings Low signifi cance, a wider range of contemporary design approach. lettering will be acceptable, unless an LP: HBE 8, 9, 10 & 11, SHO 10, 11, 15 & 21 contemporary materials can be used, However, inaccurate or inappropriate existing timber fascia exists, in which provided that they either respect the replicas of traditional styles will not be case, sign writing directly onto it will Detailed policies seeking the protection traditional building materials of the permitted. be appropriate. Illumination of fascias of historic building fabric are adequately area, or create a successful contrast should be restricted to two or three (on covered by Local Plan policies and national with them. 2.2 In Signifi cant areas or areas of Low wide frontages) slim, elegant spotlights policy guidance. In addition to meeting signifi cance, a more contemporary or discreet individually halo-lit lettering. the requirements of these policies, when 2. Pub and shop fronts approach will be encouraged provided considering changing the use of a historic LP: HBE 17, SHO 21 that the proportions, scale, materials 3.2 In areas of High signifi cance, fascia building, the City Council will seek to ensure and decoration of the original building signs should be constructed of the same that evidence of the former use should be Norwich has many fi ne traditional pub and are respected. materials as the rest of the shopfront, retained. Developers will, therefore, be shop fronts which reinforce the character of but plastics, modern cladding materials required to retain historic signs or name the City. It is important that these traditional 3. Design of advertising and lighting and aluminium will very rarely be boards, fi ttings or pieces of machinery which pub and shop fronts are retained and LP: HBE 17, 19 & 21 acceptable. Strip lights which fi t within are evocative of the former use and can be maintained, and restored where elements of the cornice or architrave, individually sensibly reused in the new development. a good traditional pub or shop front survive. Signs (both fascia and hanging) and their lit lettering, or a small number of slim, Historic doorways are also very important The removal or alteration of a pub or shop illumination should always be designed elegant spotlights are acceptable on to the integrity of historic buildings and front from most historic buildings will require for the specifi c building, with corporate fascia signs. contribute positively to the public realm; they permission. images adapted to suit different types of should be preserved where possible. building and location. However, in general, 3.3 In Signifi cant areas and areas of Low Inappropriate pub or shop fronts should be signs should not destroy the proportions or signifi cance, a wider range of materials replaced. The following provides guidance architectural features of the building and and styles of signs and illumination for replacement pub and shop fronts, and the materials should respect those of the will be considered. However, the

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Introduction to Character Areas 1 The City Centre Conservation Area is a Historic Development & Uses very large and varied area, the boundary • Degree to which different historical 2 of which generally follows the line of periods/events have contributed to the medieval city walls. This area has present townscape developed over many centuries, resulting • How past functions have defi ned the in a rich and diverse townscape. current morphology 4 In order to undertake a meaningful appraisal Archaeology 5 of the City Centre, the Conservation Area has been split up into smaller more • Location of buried remains 3 manageable areas of similar character. An • Areas of archaeological potential appraisal of each character area has then been undertaken. Current Uses 6 • Degree to which current function(s) 9 7 The Character Areas have been defi ned defi ne the present townscape using a series of criteria which refl ect 12 the history of the area, its natural and Townscape quality man-made components, and its past and • Framework of streets and plots present uses. These are all felt to shape the • Sense of enclosure 10 8 character of the areas we see today and can be summarised as follows: • Views • Nature of streets 11 Methodology for Prevalent Building Types defi ning Character Areas 13 • Presence of key historic buildings Landscape / Topography • Presence of groups of historic buildings of similar character • The distribution of green and urban open spaces • Presence of a range of historic buildings of different periods • Surviving historic topographical/ landscape features • Age and form of groups of buildings 1. Northern City 5. Cathedral Close 2. Anglia Square 6. Elm Hill & 8. King Street 11. Ber Street • Important groups of trees 3. Northern Riverside Maddermarket 9. St. Giles 12. Civic 4. Colegate 7. Prince of Wales 10. St. Stephens 13. All Saints Green

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Prevalent Detailing in areas of lower signifi cance, the emphasis with the most importance attached to Concentration of negative features • Architectural styles and specifi c features is on positive regeneration, promoting those features which contribute to the key • Negative views the reconstruction of the areas and using characteristics of Norwich as a whole: • Building materials • Negative landmarks good design to increase the quality of the • Archaeology / standing remains • Road and footway surface treatments environment. • Negative features • Scheduled Ancient Monuments • Negative buildings Once the data collection was complete, the • Important buildings or groups of buildings A rudimentary table, based on the • Poor fl oorscape information was collated and compared. information collected to defi ne the character • Defensive works Clear distinctions and boundaries began to • Areas of surface car parking areas, was drawn up; these are detailed • Historic open spaces emerge and thirteen character areas were below. The concentration or quality of • City and Local Landmarks formed. each of these categories was used to score the areas from Low signifi cance to Very Townscape / Landscape Quality A concise appraisal for each area has been High signifi cance. Scoring bands were produced which provides an overview of then established to ensure consistency and • Historic street patterns the character area and summarises its key the overall score of each character area, • Views of City and Local landmarks characteristics. Each character area appraisal therefore, defi nes its signifi cance. • Public realm details ends with a list of the relevant policies from • Strategic green spaces the Policies and Guidance section of this Very High 18+ points document, highlighting how to tailor the High 13-17 • Important / Local green spaces policies to each individual character area. Signifi cant 8-12 • Urban spaces and/or plains Low 0-7 Signifi cance of Character Areas • Key tree groups Once the thirteen character areas had been Concentration of historic buildings • Positive frontages defi ned, the signifi cance of each area was • Numbers of Grade I, II* and II Listed • Sense of enclosure then established. The signifi cance of each Buildings area is an indication of its sensitivity to Quality of Details • Numbers of Locally Listed Buildings change, its contribution to the character of • Wall materials the City Centre Conservation Area and its • Numbers of additional Locally Listed degree of uniqueness. Buildings • Roof materials • Surface treatments The signifi cance of each area establishes Presence of features from historical • Architectural detailing period(s) how each ‘policy’ in this document is applied • Architectural styles to each character area. In areas of higher The presence (above or below ground) of signifi cance, the emphasis is generally on evidence from historical period(s). This • Building Forms protecting and enhancing the quality, whilst evidence could include any of the following,

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Category Concentration of historic Presence of features from Townscape/Landscape Quality of details Concentration of negative buildings historical period(s) quality features

VERY HIGH (4) Most buildings statutorily or Presence of key city historical Very clear evidence of Very consistent use of No or very few negative locally (or potentially locally) feature(s) historic street pattern, views or wide diversity of high landmarks/buildings or listed of City Landmarks, presence quality building materials, details of strategic green/urban architectural details and/or spaces, etc. surface treatments

HIGH (3) Signifi cant numbers of High numbers/evidence Clear evidence of historic Generally consistent use Few negative landmarks/ buildings statutorily or locally of features from historical street pattern, views of City of or diversity of high buildings or details (or potentially locally) listed period(s) or Local Landmarks, presence quality building materials, of important green/urban architectural details and/or spaces, etc. surface treatments

SIGNIFICANT (2) Approx. 50% of buildings Some evidence of features Some evidence of historic Some consistency in use of Some negative landmarks/ statutorily or locally (or from historical period(s) street pattern, views of Local or some diversity of high buildings or details potentially locally) listed Landmarks, presence of quality building materials, locally important green/urban architectural details and/or spaces, etc. surface treatments

LOW (1) Few or no buildings Little or no evidence of Little or no evidence of Little or no consistency in use Signifi cant concentration statutorily or locally (or features from historical historic street pattern, few of or limited range of high of negative landmarks/ potentially locally) listed period(s) views of landmarks, few quality building materials, buildings or details green/urban spaces, etc. architectural details and/or surface treatments

PAGE 33 // NORWICH CITY CENTRE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL INDEX TO CHARACTER AREAS

Character area Significance Pages

1. Northern City SIGNIFICANT 35 – 42

2. Anglia Square LOW 43 – 48

3. Northern Riverside SIGNIFICANT 49 – 56

4. Colegate HIGH 57 – 64

5. Cathedral Close VERY HIGH 65 – 74

6. Elm Hill and Maddermarket VERY HIGH 75 – 84

7. Prince of Wales SIGNIFICANT 85 – 92

8. King Street HIGH 93 – 100

9. St Giles HIGH 101 – 108

10. St Stephens SIGNIFICANT 109 – 116

11. Ber Street LOW 117 – 122

12. Civic HIGH 123 – 130

13. All Saints Green SIGNIFICANT 131 – 136

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