NHER 37652 (Monument record) - Excavated remains of Duke's Palace and bowling alley beneath Duke Street Car Park

January to February 2003. Trial Trenching.
Three trenches excavated. Contexts 1 to 136 used.
Substantial elements of the 16th century Duke's Palace complex survive within the proposed redevelopment area. Of particular interest were the walls and surfaces identified as part of a bowling alley, one of the earliest documented examples in the country.
See reports (S1) and (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 7 March 2007.

October-December 2003. Excavation. Contexts 200 to 481.
Excavations revealed part of the Duke's palace complex including the remains of a bowling alley, believed to date from the early 17th century. Three surviving walls of the bowling alley and areas of the bowling surface were recorded. Following the departure of the Dukes of Norfolk in 1711, the bowling alley was converted to use as a workhouse, notable for being amongst the earliest in the country. Elements of the workhouse were also recorded, along with the remains of 19th century mercantile buildings.
See draft publication (S4) and assessment report (S5) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 3 September 2004.

January-February 2004. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of pile-proving trenches excavated within footprint of proposed replacement multi-storey car park. Contexts to 486.
A single trench (TP18, situated close to the Duke's Street Frontage) revealed a remnant of a wall related to the former Palace of the Dukes of Norfolk, whilst the remainder revealed nothing of archaeological significance.
See report (S6) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S7).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 3 September 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2015.

March 2004. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of piling operations during construction of new multi-storey car park.
No archaeological finds or features were encountered.
See report (S8) for further details.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 7 March 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 May 2015.

The remains here are now preserved in situ.
D. Gurney (NLA), 17 November 2005.

A combined archive comprising material from all four phases of archaeological work at this site has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.107).
P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2019.