NHER 26454 (Monument record) - Medieval and post medieval buildings, Music House Yard

December 1996. Watching Brief.
Observation of cable trench.
A number of walls found which may represent three medieval buildings but with reused limestone carved fragments. The most northerly of these walls once formed part of the Music House. One of these may be the Abbot of Windham's House. Dating of these walls is difficult as it is dependent upon three unstratified fragments of late medieval architectural masonry. The most southerly building can reasonably be viewed as medieval on the basis of the wall fabric.
Post medieval buildings owned by the Crown brewery and visible on the 1885 Ordnance Survey Map were also encountered.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
E. Rose (NLA), 30 July 1997.

February 1999. Watching Brief.
Observation during excavation of a cable trench running from King Street to Wensum Lodge.
A flint and mortar wall, a possible clay floor and a cobbled surface were noted. These are probably elements of structures recorded during the previous watching brief in this area.
See report (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2025.128).
E. Rose (NLA), 9 March 1999. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 24 August 2025.

November 2007-February 2008. Watching Brief. Contexts 1-87 used.
Monitoring of removal and relaying of courtyard surface.
No features or deposits earlier than the mid-19th century were found within the courtyard or driveway during the watching brief. This area was significantly altered to function as a brewery yard from the mid 19th century to the early 20th century, and all of the masonry encountered appears to relate to this phase of activity.
See report (S5) for further details.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 1 July 2009.