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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	39455
Type of record:	Monument
Name:	Multi-period finds and features on the site of Norwich Cathedral Hostry

Summary

A 2003 evaluation excavation uncovered two Late Saxon pits and the remains of the outer wall of the Hostry. Both these features had been heavily disturbed by post medieval pits, walls and a well. Apart from medieval and post medieval finds, four pieces of Roman roof tile were recovered. Between 2003 and 2008 a programme of excavations and watching briefs recovered more evidence of Saxon including a sunken-featured building, pits and post-holes.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:	TG 2344 0886
Map Sheet:	TG20NW
Parish:	NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK

Full description

June-July 2003. Trial Trenching.
NAU evaluation on site of proposed development. Contexts 1-75 used.
Three evaluation trenches were excavated in the area of the former Hostry of Norwich Cathedral Priory. The earliest evidence of activity on the site was in the form of two Late Saxon pits. Evidence relating to the medieval buildings was present in one trench where the outer wall of the Hostry building was revealed, surviving to a height of 0.6m. No contemporary medieval floor surfaces or occupation debris were noted. Both the medieval and Late Saxon occupation had been heavily truncated by post-medieval activity which consisted of refuse pits, walls and a well.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 16 December 2004.

2006.
Window sampling demonstrated that archaeological deposits are extant across the study area and that the natural topography has been altered in the past, probably before the construction of buildings in the 12th or 13th century. Crushed mortar was present in many of the samples, indicating demolition resulting from the Dissolution. A wall and post-medieval features were also recorded.
The results of this work are summarised in (S3).
D. Holburn (HES), 21 September 2011.

April-October 2007 and February-September 2008. Excavation and Watching Brief.
In 2007 and 2008 a programme of excavations and watching briefs were conducted prior to groundworks for the construction of a new conference centre. A number of walls were found relating to the Romanesque phase of the medieval hostry built in the 12th century. Substantial remains of the 13th century western range, which was built following a riot in 1272, were recovered. Two burials in medieval stone coffins appeared to have been moved and reburied at some point during the later post-medieval period.
See assessment report (S4) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S5).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2013.52).
S. Howard (NLA), 18 November 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2019.

November 2009.
The multi-million pound Hostry was built on the medieval foundations, and includes a welcome and interpretation centre, a conference room and an education workspace
See (S6) for details,
H. White, (NLA), 9 April 2010

Monument Types

FINDSPOT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FINDSPOT (Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
GRUBENHAUS (Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
PIT (Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
POST HOLE (Saxon - 410 AD to 1065 AD)
PIT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
BEAM SLOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
DRAIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FLOOR (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
KILN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PIT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POST HOLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
POST HOLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WALL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WELL (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

BOTTLE (Unknown date)
WINDOW GLASS (Unknown date)
ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TEGULA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
ANIMAL REMAINS (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
AQUAMANILE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
BRICK (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
COFFIN (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
DRESS PIN (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
JETTON (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
JETTON (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
TILE (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
VESSEL (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
HUMAN REMAINS (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Slide: Various. Slide.
<S1>	Unpublished Contractor Report: Wallis, H. 2003. An Archaeological Evaluation at Norwich Cathedral Hostry, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeological Unit. 847.
<S2>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. 2004. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 2003. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt III pp 573-588. p 582.
<S3>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 2007. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk in 2006. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLV Pt II pp 261-273. p 267.
<S4>	Unpublished Contractor Report: Morgan, S. 2008. An Archaeological Excavation at The Hostry, Norwich Cathedral. Assessment Report and Updated Project Design. NAU Archaeology. 1266a.
<S5>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Hoggett, R. (eds). 2008. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk in 2007. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLV Pt III pp 441-452. p 447.
<S6>	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2009. Cathedral gateway embraces spirit of hospitality. 11 November.

Related records

226	Parent of: The Cathedral of the Holy and Undivided Trinity (Norwich Cathedral) (Building)