Norwich, Castle Mall

Norfolk Archaeological Unit, 2009. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000173. How to cite using this DOI

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Digital Object Identifiers

Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) are persistent identifiers which can be used to consistently and accurately reference digital objects and/or content. The DOIs provide a way for the ADS resources to be cited in a similar fashion to traditional scholarly materials. More information on DOIs at the ADS can be found on our help page.

Citing this DOI

The updated Crossref DOI Display guidelines recommend that DOIs should be displayed in the following format:

https://doi.org/10.5284/1000173
Sample Citation for this DOI

Norfolk Archaeological Unit (2009) Norwich, Castle Mall [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1000173

Overview

Other Cemeteries at Norwich Castle

Anglia Television (Site 416N)

Comparison of the timber church excavated at this site in 1979 (Ayers 1985) with examples from Norway has suggested that this was an early form of stave church with a belfry (the 'Norwich type'; Ahrens 1994). The church appears on the basis of ceramics and other artefacts to have been established in the 11th century, although is undocumented and its dedication remains unknown. It was pre-dated by two earlier ?11th century structures, overlying a group of pits attributed to the late 10th century. In its final, twin-celled 'urban' form, the church may have held full parochial status (Ayers 1985, 64) and clearly served the functions of baptism and burial with evidence for a font and well being excavated.

Only part of the cemetery to the north of the church was excavated, its boundaries remaining uncertain (Fig_4.140). Burials continued to the south and west (Ayers 1985, 19), although no human bone was recovered from Site 150N to the south-west, suggesting that the cemetery did not extend this far (Atkin 2002, 75). Sixty-nine articulated skeletons were recovered, although 130 individuals may be represented. Two graves had flints lining each side, while many had flint or chalk 'ear muffs' or 'pillows'. There was no indication of coffins, although three burials appeared to have been lined with planks. The burials were all aligned east-to-west and most may have been interred in shrouds. The skeletal remains showed some striking features. Dietary deficiencies gave rise to various conditions and both these and the recorded pathologies indicate that individuals, particularly males, had undertaken hard physical work whilst excluded from sunlight (Stirland in Ayers 1985, 56). This could indicate mining activities (several medieval chalk mines are known in Norwich). The high mortality rate amongst infants and children is also notable. One tentative interpretation is that this cemetery could have related to a very early 'hospital' - a place for the sick and injured (Stirland in Ayers 1985, 56).

St Martin-in-Balliva (Site 64/113/569N)

Although the first documentary reference to this church, known throughout the medieval period as St Martin-in-Balliva (or St Martin-in-the-Bailey, St Martin at Bale; Blomefield 1806, II, 120), was made in the mid 13th century, it may have originated in the pre-Conquest period. This assertion is made largely on the basis of the church's topographical position in relation to the oddities of the local contours and its presence may account in part for the apparent asymmetry of the castle earthworks at this point (Fig_4.140). The site of the former church (beneath the modern Eastern Counties Newspaper building; Site 113/569N) was developed in 1967, although only minimal recording was possible. Human burials were found in the south-western and northern parts of the site. Other inhumations had been recorded further to the east (Site 64N) during the construction of Rouen Road from King Street to Cattle Market Street in 1962.

The dedication may indicate St Martin of Tours (c.317-397) which was a popular early dedication with over 173 ancient examples in Britain (Sandred and Lindström 1989, 45). Blomefield suggested that the church originally belonged to the castle and it certainly appears to have served as the castle's parish church. The church would have lain at the outermost extent of the Late Saxon town, possibly immediately inside the burh defences if such existed. The church of St Martin at Wareham, Dorset is similarly positioned a short distance away from the bank of the Anglo-Saxon burh, adjacent to a road entrance (Haslam 1984, 239 & figs 61 & 78). With the Norman Conquest, the Norwich church would appear to have been enclosed within the defensive circuit, with the size of its cemetery reduced.

?Late Saxon Cemetery (Agricultural Hall/Crown Rd, Sites 358N, 417N & 418N)

A number of burials were located beneath the Agricultural Hall in October 1958 during alterations relating to the construction of the Anglia Television offices (Site 358N; Fig_4.140). The remains of at least three human skeletons were found (two young females and one young male), although no related dateable finds. Two further burials (one male, one female) aligned east-to-west were discovered in 1977 during the excavation of a pile hole on the same site. Two sherds of 'medieval' ware were recovered from one grave. These graves were augmented in 1979 by the discovery of burials beneath the northern end of Crown Road (Site 417N). Here a large amount (unquantified) of human bone was recovered, along with medieval and post-medieval finds including antler.

Both groups are undated and neither of these small sites has been published in detail. The finds remain to be studied. The graves appear to lie too far to the north to have been associated with the cemetery and church excavated in 1979. No medieval church is known from this area and there were no monastic or friary establishments nearby (Ayers 1985, 64). This may indicate another cemetery and perhaps an associated church of pre-Conquest date enclosed within the defences of the north-east bailey.

?Disturbed burials to the north of the castle (Opie Street, Site 673N and Bank Plain, Sites 16 and 17N)

The remains of seven skeletons were recorded beneath the pavement at the southern end of Opie Street in 1958 (Site 673N; Fig_4.140). The fact that they were mixed with animal bones may suggest that they had been redeposited, perhaps into a castle ditch (although the exact position of the defences to the north of the motte remains to be proved archaeologically). Their presence here remains a mystery, the nearest church being that of St Christopher some distance to the north. This church (first mentioned in 1190-1200) lay on the eastern side of St Andrew's Hill. It was burnt down during the reign of Henry III (1216-72) and the parish had disappeared by 1286 (Sandred and Lindström 1989, 36). It is possible that these bodies indicate the presence of yet another cemetery, their presence within the castle precinct apparently suggesting a pre-Conquest date.

Just outside the castle's defensive circuit, an isolated burial, aligned east-to-west, was recorded beneath buildings at 11-17 (odd) Bank Plain (Sites 16 and 17N) in 1968 and 1970. The nearest church is St Cuthbert (documented in 1157; Sandred and Lindström 1989, 38), although this lies at too great a distance to suggest a direct relationship.


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