Conservation Plan

The wall and lower tower and the setting here is of considerable value. Any scheme to enhance the setting or any proposal to draw more visitors to the monument must be co-ordinated with any plans for the Black Tower above and proposals for the King Street Walls and the Boom Towers below. Any scheme should try, in the medium to long term, to pull together this south section of the defences which from the east Boom Tower to Ber Street runs for almost 500 metres.

The present setting:

The wall and tower are set on a ridge running down from the top of Carrow Hill towards the site of Conisford Gate on King Street. On the city side of the wall is a steep wooded slope with a relatively dense planting of young spindly trees. The pathway down from the Black Tower to the lower tower is hard against the wall for most of the way with steep steps with rough timber risers and gravel treads and an outer wooden rail. All this is in good condition as are most of the people who attempt to climb up it. [24 & 25]

On the outer side of the defences a steep slope runs down to Carrow Hill. This was, in effect the outer ditch of the wall, and was man made in part by quarrying. The slopes are now wooded but with steep steps and pathways providing a route from the outer side of the Black Tower skirting close to the wall initially but then cutting out to Carrow Hill. From there a steep run of steps zig zags back into the trees, down to the outer side of the lower tower and from there cuts through the line of the wall to run down to King Street against the inner side of the wall.

Landscape report by Christine Boswell:

From the Black Tower to the lower tower the Breedon gravel path continues. To the north occasional glimpses of views across the valley can be seen between the tree canopy of the growth on the lower slopes. The path is stepped and very steep. A small section of steps adjacent to the lower tower are all timber and when wet, very slippery. The whole walk is very dark from the overhanging trees.

There are terraced houses at the bottom of the walk to the north which are shielded by the tree growth. Their privacy should remain. The last section of the walk approaching King Street narrows before it widens to the pavement. Again it is very dark and unwelcoming. There are not any signs or information boards indicating where the path leads to.

Recommendations:

• The nettle-covered margins should be removed and replanted with evergreen ground cover (eg. Lamium maculatum).
• The trees to the northern slopes should be selectively thinned to provide views at selective stopping points across the valley while retaining the privacy of the houses below.
• The timber steps should be covered with wire netting to provide grip in wet weather.
• The whole of the pathway should be lit with discreet low level lighting for safety.
• At each path entrance to the walk, there should be a map which illustrates the route and noting points of interest.
• The south facing banks should be cleared of all weed growth and replanted with flowering ground cover, species roses and flowering woodland shrubs to provide a colourful woodland backdrop and base to this section of the City Walls.

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

See the report on the Black Tower

Archaeological impact assessment:

Archaeological excavations on this section are not a priority and the wall and tower are not under threat. However, any work on consolidating or underpinning the wall, if that should be necessary, could provide information about the footings of the wall and details about the form of the base of the tower on the outer side. Elsewhere, the towers appear to have stepped outwards at the base on the ditch side, well below the internal ground level, with a chamfer at about soil level on the slope of the ditch.

The substructure of the lower tower must have been quite an engineering achievement. As there is no indication that the massive balk of the tower has moved down the slope, it is possible that a solid platform was cut into the hillside. Archaeological excavations might also determine how much of the ridge and the ditch are part of the natural topography of the hillside. There were extensive medieval quarries to the south and along the side of the river valley to the north so much of the ridge and ditch may actually not be natural.

As elsewhere, the gate is mentioned in documents considerably before the accepted date for the construction of the flint wall and towers ... the earliest known reference to Conisford Gate is in 1175. Again, this suggests the possibility that an earlier bank and ditch preceded the surviving wall on the same line and it also means that the towers may pre date the wall if only by a few years. Archaeological digs across the line of the wall below the tower and examination of the footings if the wall above the tower has to be underbuilt on the inner side could provide vital evidence to tighten up the interpretation of this section of the wall.

Conservation Report Summary with Recommendations for Action

1. Immediate attention

• No immediate repairs required

2. Requires regular monitoring

• Monitor the base of the wall on the inner north side between the Black Tower and the lower tower to ensure that water penetrating from above or water draining past is not undercutting the wall. If movement or partial collapse is observed then the wall must be underpinned and the earth on the inner side should be banked up to protect the footings. The bank would have to be revetted on outer side and the steps would have to be rebuilt.

3. Long term conservation

• Re-mortar flints and bricks along wall top
• Re point around doorway into lower tower

Improvements to the setting

Priority

• Cut back all overhanging branches of trees on inner or north side of the wall. Cut back branches overhanging the wall from the south side. This is to bring more sunlight through to the path, to keep down mould growth on the steps and to stop heavier branches that move in the wind pushing against or knocking the wall top

Long term

• Thin out trees on both sides with a carefully planned scheme to encourage appropriate growth of what then become key or specimen trees but open up at least some clear views of the wall from below from Carrow Hill. Under plant with low-growing woodland plants
• Cut sight lines down through trees on north slope to create views of the river
• Re establish walks and steps through the Wilderness to link this area to the small park around the ruins of St Peters Church.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

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), pages 216-22, Extract
  from The Old Free Book

DOCUMENTARY REFERENCES:
We have found no medieval documents relating to the construction of this tower

HISTORIC ILLUSTRATIONS:

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery:
Harcourt, Bosworth W., King St Gates, September 18 1905, NWHCM 1922,135.BH46: F