Norwich
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Norwich from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Norwich's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry.
Former Dominican Friary (Blackfriars) Norwich: St Andrew'…
Norwich
Former friary, originally constructed by the Friars Penitential in the C13 but largely rebuilt by the Dominicans in the C14 and C15.
Roman Catholic Chapel at Earlham Cemetery
Norwich
A small cemetery chapel, built in 1874 to the designs of the Norwich architect John Bond Pearce as part of an extension to Earlham cemetery in Norwich to serve the Roman Catholic community.
Sainsbury Centre, attached walkway, underground loading b…
Norwich
The Sainsbury Centre gallery and study centre, erected in 1977.
6-11, Railway Cottages
Norwich
Six mid-19th century railway workers' cottages by Grissell & Peto for the Norfolk Railway Company, feature red brick with slate roofs, retaining historical architectural significance.
Churchman House
Norwich
Churchman House, located at 71 Bethel Street, is a former 18th-century house, now offices, featuring red brick construction, intricate interior plasterwork, and a notable T.
Norwich Railway Station
Norwich
Norwich Railway Station, built in 1886 by John Wilson, features a red brick and stucco structure with classical elements, including a dome, Corinthian pilasters, and classical motifs.
St James' Works, Jarrold's Printing Works
Norwich
St James' Works, originally a yarn mill built in 1839 by Richard Parkinson, is now a factory and offices featuring a five-story red brick structure with a unique stair-turret.
Ketts Castle Villa, Steps to Sunken Lawn, and Entrance Ga…
Norwich
A little-altered villa built in 1857 for, and believed to be designed by, the painter John Berney Ladbrooke, with many original features associated with the artist.
Norwich Castle
Norwich
Early C12 hall keep refaced in the 1830s, with attached former prison added in the early C19, converted into a museum and art gallery in the 1880s, with further C20 additions.
The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity
Norwich
The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, begun in 1096, features a nave, choir, transepts, cloisters, a crossing tower, and notable Norman and 14th-century architectural elements.
Norwich City (Earlham Road) Cemetery
Norwich
A public cemetery laid out from 1856 onwards by the City Surveyor, E E Benest.
Eaton Park
Norwich
One of five registered sites in the city of Norwich which form part of a set of public parks laid out in the 1920s and 1930s by the then Parks Superintendent, Captain A Sandys-Winsch.
The Plantation Garden, Norwich
Norwich
The Plantation Garden in Norwich, developed around a former quarry, showcases Italianate and Gothic styles, with restoration starting in 1980 led by the Plantation Garden Preservation Trust.
Wensum Park
Norwich
Wensum Park, designed by Captain Sandys-Winsch in the 1920s, features gardens and pools along the River Wensum in Norwich, developed for passive recreation using unemployed labor.
Late C19 engine house at Trowse Sewage Pumping Station
Norwich
A former steam-powered engine house at Trowse Sewage Pumping Station, built around 1869, possibly to designs by Alfred Morant, city engineer to Norwich Corporation, with Daniel Balls of...
Garden at Ketts Castle Villa
Norwich
A romantic landscape garden on a domestic scale, created in 1857 by the landscape artist John Berney Ladbrooke, at his own home, Ketts Castle Villa.
Carrow Abbey
Norwich
The C16 prioress's residence of Carrow Priory, used as a gentry home from 1538 and restored and extended by Edward Boardman in the late-C19 and early C20 as a private home and later offices...
Norwich Castle
Norwich
Early post-Conquest motte and bailey castle, built c.1067, enlarged soon after 1094.
Remains of St Benedict's Church
Norwich
The 11th-century St. Benedict's Church tower is a notable structure with flint round design and lancet windows, surviving after World War II destruction.
Church of St Augustine
Norwich
The Church of St Augustine dates from the 14th to 17th centuries, featuring a brick tower from 1683-87, flint construction, and a notable cambered tie-beam nave roof.
Manor House
Norwich
Manor House, built in 1578, features red brick, a tile roof, and striking Dutch gables. A 17th-century extension with a gable-front highlights its architectural charm.
Bacon House 33 Colegate and 35 Colegate; including Nos. 3…
Norwich
Bacon House is a historically significant former house now used as offices and flats. It features 15th-century through to 20th-century architectural elements.
Church of St Martin at Oak
Norwich
The Church of St. Martin at Oak, built in the 15th century, features flint and stone construction, a west tower, and an aisle with Perpendicular windows from around 1491.
4 and 6, Princes Street, 2 and 4, Elm Hill
Norwich
4 and 6 Princes Street is a 17th-century corner property with later alterations. It features painted brick, a pan-tile roof, and sash windows, now serving as a shop and houses.
The Dominican Friary (Blackfriars) Norwich: Becket’s Chap…
Norwich
A medieval friary including the chapter house; Becket's Chapel; the remains of the north range; the standing remains within glass panels within the East Garth; and the buried remains beneath...
86-90, King Street
Norwich
86-90 King Street features 16th-century origins, 18th and 20th-century renovations, with flint, brick, and timber frames. The building now houses flats with notable sash windows.
Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist
Norwich
Cathedral church built 1882-1910 to the design of George Gilbert Scott, junior, and John Oldrid Scott.
St Mary's Croft
Norwich
St Mary's Croft is a late 19th-century former house, now a dental surgery, showcasing Tudor-style red brick architecture with decorative details and a curvilinear design.
Former Masonic Hall
Norwich
The Former Masonic Hall on St. Giles Street, designed by Albert Havers in the early 20th century, features Tuscan columns, masonic emblems, and decorative window surrounds.
Chapelfield Gardens
Norwich
Chapelfield Gardens is a Victorian park in Norwich, historically significant for its continuous use as public space since the mid-17th century, featuring tree-lined promenades.
Carrow Works Block 92
Norwich
Block 92, the former administrative offices of J and J Colman Ltd of Norwich, built in 1857 and enlarged in 1874 and 1878.
Carrow Priory (ruined portions)
Norwich
Carrow Priory, a Benedictine convent founded in 1146 and suppressed in 1538.
168, King Street
Norwich
A 17th-century former public house, 168 King Street, known for its flint rubble construction and historical significance, has undergone 20th-century renovations.
Bethel Hospital
Norwich
Bethel Hospital is a historic 17th to 20th-century building, originally for "distress'd Lunaticks," founded by Mary Chapman in 1713, now serving as a Children's Psychiatric Clinic.
Church of St Julian
Norwich
The Church of St Julian features 11th and 12th-century origins with significant 20th-century restoration. Anchoress Julian of Norwich is historically associated with this site.
Maid's Head Hotel
Norwich
The Maid's Head Hotel, a Grade II listed building, features 15th-century cellars and has undergone numerous modifications since the 16th century, reflecting various architectural styles.
Norwich through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Norwich changes over time.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
We don't have an image for any of these list entries yet
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
We don't have an image for any of these list entries yet
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Norwich
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground.
Norwich
The Sexton, Son and Everard Ltd Shoe Manufactory (St Mary's Works) and the surrounding area, Norwich, 1946
Norwich
The Sexton, Son & Everard Ltd St Mary's Shoe Works alongside St Mary's Church, Norwich, 1953
Norwich
Eaton Park and environs, Norwich, 1928
Norwich
Eaton Park and surrounding countryside, Norwich, 1932
Norwich
Norwich Castle and Cattle market, Norwich, 1920
Norwich
The Castle, Norwich, 1951
Norwich
General view of the town centre, Norwich, 1920
Norwich
The Norwich Union offices and the Eastern Counties bus depot, Norwich, 1946
Norwich
The Holy and Undivided Trinity Cathedral, Norwich, 1921
Norwich
The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Norwich, 1951
Norwich in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Norwich's past.
Charles George Harper Collection
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A view from the west looking along a road towards a carriage arch, with the tower of St Peter Mancroft Church in the background
Eric de Mare
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1956
Jarrold's Printing Works, or the Norwich Yarn Company, in Norwich from across the river Wensum.
John Gay Collection: Counties
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: Jul 1957
A young boy with his raincoat hood up stands beside a tractor wheel at the Royal Show, Norwich
John Laing Collection
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 05 Feb 1990
Shoppers at the fresh fruit and veg section at the Sainbury's supermarket in Norwich
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 01 Nov 1893
A view showing Norwich Castle from the bridge to the south
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1900 - 1906
GENERAL VIEW OF FLOWER BEDS WITH BANDSTAND AND PAGODA IN BACKGROUND
Walter Scott
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1957
Exterior view from Red Lion Street showing the Bell Hotel from the south-west
Charles George Harper Collection
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A view from the south-east looking across the busy Market Place towards the Guildhall
Eric de Mare
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1956
Exterior view of the Bullard's Anchor Brewery on Coslany Street in Norwich from the street.
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 06 Jul 1920 - 10 Jul 1920
The knapped flint north facade of the Bridewell
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1890 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW LOOKING TOWARDS THE PAGODA
Walter Scott
Norwich, Norfolk
Date created: 1957
A view looking across Norwich Market towards City Hall
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Norwich.
Temperance Buildings: The Way Out of Darkest England
Mentions Former Railway Mission
The temperance movement and its remarkable physical legacy visible on our streets today.
The History of Religious Wall Paintings in England: From the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era
Mentions The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity
Explore England's religious wall paintings, a blend of art and spirituality spanning the Middle Ages to the 19th century.
5 Art Nouveau Buildings in England
Mentions Royal Arcade
Explore some of England’s beautiful Art Nouveau buildings featuring flowing lines and floral designs.
A Brief Introduction to Denys Lasdun
Mentions Norfolk Terrace and Attached Walkways, at the University of East Anglia
Discover the life and work of one of the most prominent post-war architects in England
A Brief Introduction to High-Tech Architecture
High Tech architecture used pipes, nuts, and bolts as decoration while also serving a practical purpose.
7 Reasons to love historic Norwich
Mentions The Guildhall, St Ethelbert's Gate, Norfolk Terrace and Attached Walkways, at the University of East Anglia
Norwich is the only English city in a National Park (the Norfolk Broads) and until the Industrial Revolution was the second largest city in the...
6 Reasons to Love Historic Norfolk
Mentions Suffolk Terrace and adjoining walkway and stairs to rear, at the University of East Anglia, Sainsbury Centre, attached walkway, underground loading bay, and retaining walls to loading bay access road at the University of East Anglia
Norfolk is rich in English history and the vast, flat landscape has inspired artists, writers and poets for centuries.
9 Luxurious Listed Loos
Mentions Gentlemens Urinal
Our public facilities embody a proud civic heritage of social responsibility, as well as changing attitudes to public health and cleanliness.
6 Remarkable First World War Memorials
Mentions War Memorial and War Memorial Garden Terrace
1. The Response, Newcastle Designed by Sir William Goscombe John, unveiled 1923.
Mentions Norwich
Picturing High Streets was a 3-year partnership between Historic England and photography champions @photoworks_uk, who worked with 9 regional partner...
How Photography Captured England’s Changing High Streets
Picturing High Streets was a 3-year partnership between Historic England and photography champions @photoworks_uk, who worked with 9 regional partner photography organisations to create a contemporary picture of England’s high streets.
Public Backs Historic Churches: Research Reveals Significant 'Heritage Premium'
Mentions Norwich
New research reveals strong public support for preserving historic churches.
Research Reports Roundup February 2025
Mentions Norwich
A roundup of the latest additions to our research reports database from October 2024 to February 2025, arranged by theme.
Grant for the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich
Mentions Roman Catholic Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich
Historic England has awarded a grant of £57,000 to support vital conservation work and secure the landmark's long-term future.
Norfolk Broads Waterside Buildings Listed
Mentions Norwich
5 waterside buildings in the Broads National Park, Norfolk, have been listed at Grade II by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
Picturing High Streets: Over 200 Images Taken by the Public Enter Historic England Archive
Mentions Norwich
Documenting a year in the life of the English high street, images taken by the public as part of 'Picturing High Streets' can be viewed online.
Research Reports Roundup January 2023
Mentions Norwich
A roundup of recent research reports added to our database in December 2022 to January 2023, displayed by themes.
£4.5 Million Increase to the Heritage Stimulus Fund
Mentions Norwich
Funding will ensure essential repairs and restoration can be completed as well as supporting thirty-three new historic sites for the first time.
Heritage and Craft Workers Across England Given a Helping Hand
Mentions Norwich
142 historic sites across England are receiving grants worth £35 million through the government’s Culture Recovery Fund.
High Streets Heritage Action Zones’ Cultural Programme Awards £6 Million Grants
Mentions Norwich
Over 60 High Streets Heritage Action Zones will receive grants totalling £6 million going to local arts organisations for community-led activities.
1980s Sainsbury’s in Camden Becomes First Listed Supermarket
Mentions Sainsbury Centre, attached walkway, underground loading bay, and retaining walls to loading bay access road at the University of East Anglia, Norwich
The first purpose-built supermarket added to the NHLE along with canal-side terraced houses, both part of the Grand Union Complex in Camden.
More Than 2,500 Poignant War Memorials Listed During Four Year Project to Commemorate First World War Centenary
Mentions Norwich
Through the First World War Memorials programme, 2,645 First World War memorials have been listed, more than doubling the amount previously listed.
Exceptional Survival of Rare Anglo-Saxon Coffins
Mentions Norwich
Archaeologists have revealed evidence of what might have been the final resting place for a community of early Christians.
Norwich's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area.
Weaver's Cottage, George Street, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
This building was originally a weaver's cottage. It had a date inscription that read 'WAW 1670'. The WAW stood for a William and Ann Watson.
Weaver's Cottage, George Street, Norwich, Norfolk
Tombland Alley, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This view looks through the archway under 14 Tombland, a mid 16th-century house built for Augustine Steward, a former mayor of Norwich, and through...
Tombland Alley, Norwich, Norfolk
The Castle, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
The castle probably began as a motte and bailey castle in 1066-1075. The keep is thought to have been built in about 1095 to 1110.
The Castle, Norwich, Norfolk
The Briton's Arms, Elm Hill, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
This house was built in the early 1400s. It was used as a 'beguinage'.
The Briton's Arms, Elm Hill, Norwich, Norfolk
Thatching, Rosemary Lane, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: 1940s (1946 - 1949)
Pykerells House has survived from the 15th century and is here seen having its roof re-thatched.
Thatching, Rosemary Lane, Norwich, Norfolk
Street market, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: 1950s (1950 - 1959)
A view looking down on a street market in Norwich which is busy with shoppers.
Street market, Norwich, Norfolk
Strangers Hall Museum, Charing Cross, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: Tudor (1485 - 1602)
This house was been owned by important merchants and mayors of Norwich. The street front seen today was remodelled in 1621-2.
Strangers Hall Museum, Charing Cross, Norwich, Norfolk
St John Maddermarket, Norwich, Norfolk
Period: 1940s (1946 - 1949)
A street view with traffic lights on an island in front of parked cars.
St John Maddermarket, Norwich, Norfolk
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary.
St Michael Coslany, Oak Street, Norwich
St Michael Coslany is a large late medieval church with impressive Victorian flint and limestone flushwork.
St Peter Hungate Church, Princes Street, Norwich
St Peter Hungate Church is a Grade-I listed former parish church, home to the Hungate Medieval Arts Museum in the centre of Norwich.
Discover more
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