NHER 576 (Building record) - St Swithin's Church, Benedict Street, Norwich

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Summary

This former parish church is now redundant and is used as an Arts Centre. It dates to the 14th and 15th century and is made from flint with stone and brick dressings. It has a combined nave and chancel, vestry and hall to the east but the west tower had to be pulled down in 1881 after sewer digging undermined the foundations. Inside the roof is made from queen posts and there is a Scandinavian dedication to a saint. Alterations in the former churchyard revealed a 19th century well.

Protected Status/Designation

Listed Building (I) 1220682: PREMISES ARTS CENTRE

Location

Map sheet	TG20NW
Civil Parish	NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

St Swithin's Church, St Benedict's Street.

Scandinavian dedication - R.R. Clarke (NCM).
English saint (Especially of Winchester) dating to the 9th century.

February 1954. Listed, Grade I.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Former parish church, now redundant and used as Arts Centre. 14th and 15th century. Flint with stone and brick dressings. Lead roof. West tower pulled down in 1881. Nave and chancel in one. North and south aisles. Rood turret against north aisle."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 17 January 2018. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 8 November 2019.

1970s or 1980s. Building Survey.
Examined as part of Norwich Survey.
See draft report (S2) and short report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 17 January 2018.

September 1998. Watching Brief.
Observations of alterations to former churchyard.
Revealed only a well with 19th century top, and 19th century foundations.
Report (S4) in file.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : ).
E. Rose (NLA) 2 July 1999. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 24 August 2025.

The tower had to be removed after excavations for the new Norwich sewers undermined it, see (S5).
E. Rose (NLA) 22 December 2005.

Associated Sources (15)

--- SNF80399 Leaflet: Norwich Historic Churches Trust & HEART. St Swithin, St Benedict Street..
--- SNF4550 Monograph: Batcock, N. 1991. The Ruined and Disused Churches of Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 51. Microfiche 5:G12. No N47; p 175.
--- SNF58263 Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 253.
--- SNF100518 Publication: [Unknown]. [unknown]. Palimpsests Behind 'Norfolk' Brasses (N).
--- SNF5459 Publication: Cox, J. C. 1911. Country Churches: Norfolk. Vol II. pp 190-191.
--- SNF7068 Publication: Messent, C. J. W. 1932. The City Churches of Norwich. p 80.
--- SNF87229 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Norwich - Post Roman.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 20 NW 237.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF98371 Unpublished Document: [Unknown]. [unknown]. St Swithin's - A Brief History and Guide.
<S1> SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1220682.
<S2> SNF98369 Unpublished Document: [Unknown]. 1984. St Withun [draft report].
<S3> SNF98370 Unpublished Report: Woodman, F. 1983. St Swithin's Church, Norwich.
<S4> SNF86470 Unpublished Contractor Report: Hobbs, B. 1999. Report on a Watching Brief at Norwich Arts Centre, St Benedict's Street, Norwich. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 409.
<S5> SNF60258 Article in Serial: Funnell, B. 2005. New Mills and the Norwich Sewers. NIAS Journal. Vol 7, No 5. p 70.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (2)

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Record last edited

Aug 24 2025 12:39PM