Bold new vision to make city walls among Norwich’s most prominent features again

Norwich Union image of the walled city of Norwich from 14th century. Picture: Aviva Archant

Broken, fragmented and often hidden behind buildings or foliage, the remnants of Norwich’s once vast city walls are a pale imitation of the formidable barrier they once represented.

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One of the Norwich city wall towers off Carrow Hill. Photo: Bill Smith Copy: None For: Library / stock EDP pics © 2004 (01603) 772434 One of the Norwich city wall towers off Carrow Hill. Photo: Bill Smith Copy: None For: Library / stock EDP pics © 2004 (01603) 772434

But a new project is aiming to change that, by once again making the remaining structures some of the city’s most prominent features.

The Norwich Society has launched the initiative, by calling on the authorities and other interested groups to do more to celebrate and show off the walls, which were once the longest circuit of urban defences in Britain.

It is urging them to learn from other cities, such as Chester and York, which also have remaining fortifications, and hopes that, in this way, Norwich’s walls can become an increasingly important draw for tourists and visitors.

The group’s ambitious vision even extends to rebuilding the boom towers across the Wensum at Carrow and restoring other remaining towers. For instance, the group has suggested the Black Tower, on Carrow Hill, could be reroofed and have floors reinserted.

It also suggests replacing crenellations – the distinctive features found on medieval battlements – on certain stretches, such as at the bottom of Grapes Hill and at the top of Magdalen Street.

Certain parts – such as between All Saints Green and Ber Street – could even be reconstructed altogether, the group argues. Where no remnants exist, sculptures or similar structures could be built.

The setting of surviving elements, such as on Carrow Hill, should be improved, the society says, with linear parkland created along the walls.

As a first step, the group has produced a new pamphlet, “Fragments of Norwich City Walls”, combining the history of the walls, which were built to help with taxation as well as for defensive purposes, with ideas for their future.

Vicky Manthorpe, administrator of the society, said the idea for the booklet first arose during talks with conservation officers at City Hall about maintaining the walls.

“Out of those discussions they felt the one thing we could do was to draw more attention to them, so people were perhaps more interested in what happens to them long-term, and what it meant to feel a part of Norwich,” she said.

“One person said to me that what they like about the city walls is that they remind them that they live in a historic place.

“That made me think ‘that’s probably how a lot of people feel’.

“They are not necessarily going to visit a lot of it, but they like to catch a glimpse of it.

“We thought we need something that people can just pick up and drop into, like a magazine, with little nuggets about the walls.”

For the past three years, volunteers from the society have been collating stories about the walls that connect themes to historical events and people.

Those nuggets include news that Roger, son of Richard de Augustine, was fined 6d in 1291 or 1292 for undermining the walls at St Augustine’s Gate, while people were fined for letting animals stray into the ditches or hanging any cloth on the walls.

The volunteers walked the whole circumference of the walls – a four-hour trek – and were briefed by specialists from Historic England, formerly English Heritage, and the Norfolk Record Office.

The booklet will be placed in public libraries countywide, and is available by post from The Norwich Society for £5 and an A4 stamped, addressed envelope to the Norwich Society, Assembly House, Theatre Street, Norwich NR2 1RQ, or at City Books and Jarrold.

What do you think about the future of Norwich’s city walls?

Write (giving your full contact details) to: The Letters Editor, Norwich Evening News, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk