NHER 5913 (Monument record) - Site of St Nicholas' Church

(S1) says some remains - built into back garden wall of St Nicholas' House.
Tower stood in in 1740 - and in 1718 (S2) noted tower only - what looks like a round-headed window below the old nave roofline on his drawing.
Chancel repaired in 1527 according to (S3).
Church was mentioned in 1291, repaired in 1528 and demolished after 1547.
See extract from (S4) in file showing reused stonework in adjacent house.
E. Rose (NAU).

1920.
Human remains reported from pipe trench.

September-October 1989. Excavation.
Revealed Late Saxon, medieval and post medieval pits showing that the land remained open until the 19th century when the Burrell works were constructed.
Pits contained Late Saxon/Medieval pottery, shell, animal bones, Late Saxon metalwork.
See (S5).
The finds recovered during this work have been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1990.123)
E. Rose (NLA), 24 February 1992.
(S6) states that the 1989 excavations revealed only rubbish and cess pits, and that these dated from no earlier than the 11th century. These features provided evidence of occupation nearby (probably on the Minstergate frontage) from sometime in the 11th century, continuing through the 12th, but declining (or less evident) thereafter. The pits contained a typical urban, mainly domestic, assemblage.
The excavations also revealed some remains relating to the use of this site in the post medieval period, when it was part of the area occupied by Burrell's works.
A. Cattermole (NLA), 20 August 2008.

1990. Rescue excavation during building work.
Thirty-six medieval inhumations above 11th-12th century pits.
Roman, Middle Saxon, Late Saxon sherds found.
E. Rose (NLA), 24 February 1992.

For 1989 and 1990 excavations see (S6) and (S7). The results of this work are also summarised in (S8) and (S9).
There has been some reinterpretation of finds and it appears some previously dated Late Saxon are now dated medieval in the report.
E. Rose (NAU) 4 October 1999.

Photo numbers are part of the excavation record.

November 2010. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of part of proposed development site (Trench 1).
A single trench was excavated at the northern end of this site, in the gap between the two trial trenches opened in 1989. The earliest features uncovered were two pits that both contained pottery suggestive of a Late Saxon or early medieval date. One also produced a single oyster shell and a small amount of animal bone. These pits were overlain by remains relating to the period when the site was occupied by the Charles Burrel Works. These included a brick structure, a layer of interleaved sand and ash deposits and various pits containing ash, cinders and metal-working debris. Finds recovered from these later deposits included a residual medieval pottery sherd and a late post-medieval/modern pottery sherd.
Significantly there was no evidence for burials associated with St Nicholas' Church, helping to further refine the likely extent of its associated graveyard.
See report (S10) for further details.
Previously recorded under NHER 43129.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 July 2026.

April 2011. Field Observation.
Attendance by archaeologist from NPS Archaeology following call from Norfolk Constabulary regarding a report of human remains in the spoil from a foundation trench at c. TL 8680 8324. Unfortunately, when the groundworks were viewed concrete had already been poured, preventing the observation of any stratigraphy. It was though confirmed that a 'large amount' of human bone had been disturbed, which was almost certainly derived from burials associated with St Nicholas’ Church. These human remains were presumably reburied on the site, although exactly where is not specified.
Information from brief note in report (S11).
P. Watkins (HES), 8 July 2026.