NHER 157 (Building record) - Remains of St Benedict's Church, Norwich

'Largely destroyed by enemy action 1942'.
R. R. Clarke, NCM.

February 1954. Listed, Grade I.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Tower of former parish church, destroyed in World War II. 11th century. Flint round tower with lancet windows. Octagonal top stage with stone quoins and alternating blind and Y-tracery openings."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 March 2021.

March-April 1972. Excavation.
Excavations by [1] for Norwich Survey recovered building history of St Benedicts Church. Four major phases:
I. 11th century nave, apsidal east end.
II. Early English square ended chancel extension (and tower?).
III. Perpendicular complete rebuild apart from west tower (refaced and top storey added).
IV. North aisle added - with subsequent additions rebuilds and restorations up to 19th century.
Date of round west tower uncertain - post dates I but predates III.
Informant [2] said facing was 14th century.
Pottery Late Saxon - 20th century. Other finds coffin furniture and medieval to 19th century.
Finds held by NCM.
Work also summarised in (S11) and discussed in (S12).
Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 18 January 2020.

The font, a most remarkable thing apparently 15th century and doctored rather than defaced in the late 16th, is now at Erpingham site NHER 6720.
Reference (S9), copy in file, shows before-and-after photographs of church.
Perpendicular south porch with four centred entry, two south Perpendicular windows of differing sizes, small Y-tracery window at end; square clerestories; apparently no chancel.
Photograph after bombing shows two arches of differing sizes in north wall (arcade?) and that blast had blown out one of the slit windows in the tower.
E. Rose (NLA) 25 July 1996.

Source [3] states that despite the excavation evidence he still considers the round tower to be "Norman".
E. Rose, 26 February 1997.

The communion rails and stained glass were removed in 1641-3 (S10).