Greyfriars Tower in Tower Gardens

GREYFRIARS TOWER IN TOWER GARDENS, ST JAMES' STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1195428
Date first listed:
01-Dec-1951
List Entry Name:
Greyfriars Tower in Tower Gardens
Statutory Address:
GREYFRIARS TOWER IN TOWER GARDENS, ST JAMES' STREET
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Location

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Date:
2000-10-17
Reference:
IOE01/00201/28
Rights:
© Graham Brown. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1195428
Date first listed:
01-Dec-1951
Date of most recent amendment:
26-Jul-1993
List Entry Name:
Greyfriars Tower in Tower Gardens
Statutory Address 1:
GREYFRIARS TOWER IN TOWER GARDENS, ST JAMES' STREET

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
GREYFRIARS TOWER IN TOWER GARDENS, ST JAMES' STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Norfolk
District:
King's Lynn and West Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
TF 62012 19787

Details

TF6219NW
610-1/10/233

KING'S LYNN
ST JAMES' STREET (South side)
Greyfriars Tower in Tower Gardens

(Formerly listed as: ST JAMES' STREET (South side) Greyfriars Tower)

01/12/51

GV

I
Central crossing tower of the Church of St Francis Priory, of the Greyfriars Order. Founded c.1230, enlarged c.1300, tower late C14 on C13 masonry courses. Brick and carstone with ashlar dressings. Mendicant plan of a passageway under tower from north to south, conventional east-west chancel and nave arches also. Base comprises crossing piers, C13. Buttresses formed from nave and chancel walls, with set-offs. East and west arches of stone with wave, hollow and roll moulded piers on low polygonal bases. Polygonal capitals and triple-chamfered pointed arches. Staircase within north-east pier. Gabled elements to north and south, roofed with stone slabs, slope up to octagonal two-stage tower, the staircase turret continuing. Between each facet are stepped ashlar buttresses. First stage with two-light transomed Perpendicular windows to each face with cusped ogee heads. Second-stage windows similar but simpler in design. Crenellated parapet enriched with cusped arcading. This tower is the best surviving Mendicant tower in the country exhibiting the under-tower north-south passage, with the exception of St Andrew's, Norwich. Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Listing NGR: TF6201219787

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
384287
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Greyfriars Tower in Tower Gardens

Map

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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