Conservation Plan

The present setting:

The present setting of the wall is not attractive. [18 & 19]The dual carriageway of the inner ring road presses hard against the outer side and on the inner side there is a wide pavement with planting on both sides and further east a car park. [20]There is heavy pedestrian traffic across the south end of the wall with people using the traffic lights to cross the main road. As the ground level has been raised and because much of the upper part of the wall has been lost the scale and impact of the surviving wall has been diminished. 

Landscape report by Christine Boswell:

Very little of the existing wall in this area remains. What does remain is covered in impenetrable ground cover. This does have the advantage of preventing pedestrians from taking short cuts across the area. Where only arched openings remain, the walls are smothered in vegetation which is masking the walls. All that remains of the tower on this section is a hole in the ground with masonry at ground level. The hole is filling with rubbish and a buddleia has self-seeded. The most successful planting along this section is the border of species shrub rose alongside the western face. They present an impenetrable barrier; are fairly see-through so do not totally mask the wall and are very decorative.

An unattractive barrier guards a short cut.

Recommendations:

• The walls should be stripped of vegetation to expose the remains. The dense ground cover should be replaced with a lower-growing cover or different varieties of species shrub rose should be used as a light barrier.

• The timber barrier should be removed and replaced with a lightweight metal railing.

• An information board about the wall should be introduced at the eastern side of the traffic light end.

• The open arches should be lit from below.

Potential medium or long-term improvements recommended for the surroundings:

If funds could be found, a more drastic plan could be adopted to enhance and protect this section of the wall. If the present footpath on the inner side of the wall could be moved back towards the car park by 4 metres it would be possible to excavate the ground around the wall down to the level of the medieval lane inside the wall. This is about 1 metre down. The edge of the excavation should be a vertical face protected by a light metal barrier. On the side towards the road the drop could be immediately inside the present kerb line. The wall would in effect sit within a broad shallow trench. More substantial parts of the tower and parts of the wall linking the main section to the isolated arch at the north end should be revealed. This is in effect an archaeological display reflecting the work of 1948-1953. The level of the lane at the bottom of the excavation could be cobbled or covered with gravel. There should be no planting within the sunken area. The barrier and the drop would stop people approaching the wall which is in parts potentially dangerous and certainly vulnerable. Lighting and signs could also be protected from all but the most determined vandals by being inside the barrier. It should be possible to place lights behind flush panels of toughened glass sunk into the revetment under the path or under the road.

The landscape work would have to be of a high quality and very robust. Ongoing maintenance costs should be low apart from regular clearing of rubbish so the area did not become a giant rubbish bin.

This scheme should be considered carefully in conjunction with future treatment of the wall on the south side of St Benedict's and any scheme should try and draw the two parts together visually to form a more significant unit.

Archaeological impact assessment:

This part of the walls has been more thoroughly investigated than any other section. However, if the recommendations for improvements to the landscape setting are implemented, particularly if the soil level against the wall is lowered, there may be scope for more work. Certainly excavations around the site of the gate could provide valuable additional information.

CONSERVATION REPORT SUMMARY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION

1. Immediate attention

• Re-bed bricks in south arch and replace flints above ... try to give some protection from water running off wall top

• Replace loose flints at base of wall

• Clear undergrowth and rubbish from base of tower

2. Requires regular monitoring

• Monitor arch north of tower and consider remedial work to stop arch collapsing

3. Long term conservation

• Depends upon work done to improve landscape setting

4. Improvements to the setting

Priority

• Clear some of the planting that obscures the wall

• Remove wooden barrier across arch

Long term

• Take level of soil down within a new moat or enclosure with light metal railings

• Consolidate what survives of the inner wall of the tower and the doorway there

• Light the wall on both sides

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Blomefield, Francis, An Essay Towards the Topographical History of the
County of Norfolk, vol. III: The History and County of Norwich Part I
(London: W. Bulmer, 1806)
Blyth, G.K., The Norwich Guide and Directory (London: R. Hastings;
Norwich: Josiah Fletcher, 1842)
Collins, Arthur E., The Walls of Norwich (City and County of Norwich,
Norwich: Jarrold & Sons, 1910)
Hudson, William, and Tingey, John C., The Records of the City of Norwich,
vol. II (Norwich & London: Jarrold & Sons, 1910), pp. 216-22, Extract from
The Old Free Book

DOCUMENTARY REFERENCES:

N.R.O. Book of Customs (last leaf)

ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTS:

Hurst, G. & Golson, J., 'Excavations at St. Benedict's Gates Norwich 1951
and 1953', Norfolk Archaeology 31 (1957): 5-112
Jope, E.M., 'Excavations in the City of Norwich, 1948', Norfolk Archaeology
30 (1952):287-323, esp. pages 295-7
SMR NF19
SMR NF26013

HISTORIC ILLUSTRATIONS:

Reeve, James (attrib.), Norwich Castle Museum 1894.76 FAW 306 :INT
View of St Benedict's taken shortly after bombs were dropped in the area.
Norwich Studies Library. Published in the Eastern Daily Press August 20,
1999 in the column 'Down Memory Lane'