NHER 1010 (Building record) - 220 to 222 Northgate Street

October-November 1973. Building Survey.
Survey undertaken of Nos 220 to 222 Northgate Street by Norfolk Archaeological Unit, ahead of what was at the time believed to be their imminent demolition. This work was focused on 221 and 222 Northgate Street as 220 was still occupied at the time of the survey.
This work demonstrated that the existing Georgian façade had been added to a complex series of structures. The earliest building on the site was a two-storied medieval range parallel to the street. Only the brick and flint rear wall of this building survives, a 15m section of which was exposed. All of the original openings have chamfered dressings, using the best-fired bricks. It appears that the medieval wall may have originally continued to both the north and south of 221 and 222. An examination of the cellars beneath the buildings to the south revealed medieval fabric in their rear walls, the lines of which appears to be consistent with being a continuation of the medieval wall revealed at 221 and 222 (see NHERs 18492 and 34556). It is therefore possible that this medieval range extended as far as the precinct wall of the Benedictine Priory attached to St Nicholas' Church. The thickness of the rear wall of 220 indicates the medieval wall may have also extended further to the north, towards the line of the Town Wall.
The medieval building was substantially remodelled in the 16th and early 17th centuries. Removal of 19th-century fabric revealed a number of 16th-century features including the remains of a ceiling and a roll-moulded cross beam. Prior to the commencement of these investigations only the phases dating from the late 18th century onwards were apparent. The most substantial alterations took place at the end of the 18th century, when the building, including the section between 221 and the Town Wall, was completely remodelled and heightened to form the present three houses. In Nos 221 and 222 this rebuilding resulted in the creation of an asymmetrical pair of houses.
At the back of the main range are early 19th-century lean-to service rooms with cellars.
See published report (S1) and unpublished documents (S2) and (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
P. Watkins (HES), 13 March 2022.

March 1974. Building Survey.
Examined by Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.
Rear wall recorded as probably 15th century. Also remains of 16th-, 17th- and 19th-century work.
See report (S5) for further details. Information from record card (S6).

August 1974. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Terrace of two late 18th-century houses, extended to the north early 19th century to form two houses. Built against a wall of a 14th-century building. Colourwashed brick under a slate roof.
EXTERIOR: three storeys. No.220 has two-window range, No.221 three-window range, No.222 four-window range. No.220 to north is built over the line of the 14th-century town wall in its north return. Façade with a 20th-century shop display window and a passageway to the right of this...No.221 has its doorcase set to right and No.222 has its door set next to it, both identical...Hipped roof. The rear shows evidence of a late 14th-century building with five pointed-arched windows with brick jambs and a blocked sixth window, all at first-floor level. Excavations in 1973 showed remains of an arched door to ground floor…"
Information from (S7).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S7) for the current listing details.
E. Rose (NLA), 7 May 1999. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 13 March 2022.

1977. Field Observation.
Exterior seen by E. Rose (NAU).
Information from record card (S6).

March 2009.
Proposal to remove a 4m section of yard wall and replace it with wooden gates.
See (S8) and (S9) for further details
H. White (NLA), 23 April 200900