Guildhall
Begun in 1407, the Guildhall was the first large civic structure of
the city, built to replace a small toll house (used to collect market fees).
It was essentially complete in 1453 when the windows of the Mayor's Court
were recorded as being glazed. The east facade is of the 16th century.
The checker pattern, in what is known as "flushwork" is similar to the
slightly earlier one in Kings Lynn. It is built with lozenge and
triangular checkerwork of flint contrasted with freestone. Several
18th-century additions and much reconstruction during the 19th century
are evident in the structure.
The Guildhall originally contained a small chapel dedicated to St.
Barbara which also had stained glass. In 1535-6 payment was made for "brekying
down the crown over the glasse windows" and "colouring the Chapell windows
with green" to comply with religious reform. In the 17th century
the chapel had become dilapidated and was rebuilt to serve as new Sheriff's
offices. Fragments of stained glass are gathered into three windows
at the east end of the Mayor's Court (also called Council Chamber).
The larger Assembly Chamber was designed for meetings of the full medieval
Council of over 100 members. The ceiling is probably a Victorian
reconstruction of the original low-pitched wooden structure.
N1 Norwich, Guildhall 1407-1453, facade
N2 Norwich, Guildhall 1407-1453, upper facade, detail showing flushwork in checker pattern
Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Trinity
The great Norman power of the cathedral is still very much evident
to the visitor. English cathedrals were invariably monasteries and cathedrals,
that is, they housed monks who were headed by an abbot or prior, as well
housing the office of the bishop who administered a diocese. The church
was founded by Herbert de Losinga, the first bishop, as the cathedral priory
of the Benedictine monastery in Norwich in 1096. Its building commenced
from east, and by Losinga's death in 1119 the choir, transepts and 1st
bay of the nave were built. The building was largely complete by
the mid twelfth century. In 1169 the building was damaged by fire
and reconstruction was accomplished. In the 1270s a bitter conflict
erupted between the monastery and the town, leading to a riot and burning
of the cathedral. The original Norman cloisters, probably with a
wooden roof, were completely destroyed; their rebuilding began in 1292
and only finished in 1430. The presbytery clerestory was rebuilt
in the 1360-70s, and the vault added in 1463. About 1430 the remodeling
of the west front was begun. In 1446 Bishop Lyhart began the complex
"lierne" vault of the nave and the building of the rood screen. In
the early 16th century, vaulting over the transepts and the rest of the
church was accomplished. In 1538, like the other great monasteries
in England, Norwich was disbanded.
See Eric Fernie, An Architectural History of Norwich Cathedral
(Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993)
N3 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity seen from St. Helena's
N3a Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, from the southwest, after C. H. B. Quennell, The Cathedral Church of Norwich (London: George Bell & Sons, 1900)
N3b Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, plan, after C. H. B. Quennell, The Cathedral Church of Norwich (London: George Bell & Sons, 1900)
N4 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, west facade, 15th century
N4a Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, West facade, after C. H. B. Quennell, The Cathedral Church of Norwich (London: George Bell & Sons, 1900)
N5 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, detail of west door, 15th century
N6 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, nave, before 1169, vaulting, early 16th century.
N7 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, detail of nave arcading, before 1169
N7a Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Choir and presbytery, after C. H. B. Quennell, The Cathedral Church of Norwich (London: George Bell & Sons, 1900)
N7b Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, detail of presbytery clerestory and vaulting, after C. H. B. Quennell, The Cathedral Church of Norwich (London: George Bell & Sons, 1900)
N8 Cloisters, west wing, c. 1420.
Seven Sacraments Font: Additional scene of the Crucifixion, from late 15th century, in the chapel of St. Luke, off south ambulatory. Alternation of evangelists and their symbols at base, standing saints on shaft; angels that support bowl hold a symbol of the sacrament. For penance an angel holds the book of life. Full length angels at corners of bowl between scenes. Scenes highly mutilated; and almost all heads of images lopped off.
NF1 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Font with Seven Sacraments and Crucifixion, late 15th century.
NF2 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Font with Seven Sacraments and Crucifixion, late 15th century, detail of base with evangelists and their symbols. Heads destroyed by iconoclasts.
NF3 Norwich, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Font with Seven Sacraments and Crucifixion, angel holding the "book of life" below sacrament of penance.
Despenser Retable
The Despenser Retable is of interest for its possible role as
symbolic gift at a time of social and religious upheaval. Possibly
given to Norwich Cathedral by Bishop Despenser as a thank-offering for
help in suppression of the 1381 rebellion, the retable can also be viewed
as a strategic signifier of clerical authority. A highly conservative
devotional scene, the retable was given at the historical moment of the
Lollard challenges to the very idea of devotional imagery. Its frame
includes coats of arms of some Norwich families who helped to suppress
the rebellion.
NR 1 Despenser Retable, Norwich Cathedral, 1381-1400, Flagellation, Christ Carrying Cross, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension [MPC]
NR 2 Despenser Retable, Norwich Cathedral, 1381-1400, detail of Flagellation [MPC]
NR 3 Despenser Retable, Norwich Cathedral, 1381-1400, detail of Christ Carrying Cross
NR 4 Despenser Retable, Norwich Cathedral, 1381-1400, detail of Crucifixion
NR 5 Despenser Retable, Norwich Cathedral, 1381-1400, detail of Resurrection
NR 5a Despenser Retable, Norwich Cathedral, 1381-1400, detail of Resurrection, after C. H. B. Quennell, The Cathedral Church of Norwich (London: George Bell & Sons, 1900)
NR 6 Despenser Retable, Norwich Cathedral, 1381-1400, detail
of Ascension
Retable from St. Michael at Plea
NR 7 Retable from St. Michael at Plea 1450s? Bishop, Annunciation, Resurrection, Crucifixion, Bishop
NR 8 Retable from St. Michael at Plea 1450s? detail of Annunciation.
St. Stephen's
The parish church of St. Stephen's is now a large, late-Gothic building
with splendid hammer beam roof, tall aisles, and clerestory dating to the
late 15th century. Its foundation dates to charters confirmed by
Henry II between 1096 when the cathedral was founded to 1135. It
was probably one of the 15 churches listed in the Doomsday book (1086)
and one of the 60 churches of the city known in 1300. The oldest
parts, tower base and southern doorway, of the present church date to the
mid 14th century. See brasses, in particular a woman about 1410 with
two small pilgrims (with staves) saying their beads(rosary) at her
feet. Margery Kempe speaks of visiting St. Stephen's when in Norwich.
NSS1 Norwich. St. Stephen's, from south, c. 1350 -1500.
NSS2, Norwich. St. Stephen's, south door, 14th century
NSS4 Norwich. St. Stephen's, interior, nave looking to west, c. 1350 -1500.
Hospital of St. Helena
Just outside the cathedral precinct, in Bishopgate street, is the medieval
foundation of the Great Hospital and its church of St. Helena. Today
it is a residence for the aged. Founded by bishop Suffield in 1249, it
was designed to give a home to infirm clergy. The foundation was
also charged with providing food for thirteen old people (who could eat
by the fire in winter) and seven poor scholars during term time.
The hospital's church built by Suffield has been replaced. The present
chancel dates from 1380 and the reign of Bishop Despencer (of retable fame);
the rest of the church was rebuilt in the late fifteenth century by Bishop
Goldwell. From this later reconstruction, which included a refectory,
infirmary hall, and a tower, dates the prior's cloister. Its size
is intimate, and meant for less corporate use than the massive complexity
of the cloisters of the cathedral that had been under construction from
about 1297 through 1430.
NSH 1 Hospital Church of St. Helena, Prior's Cloister, arcades, c. 1480
NSH 2 Hospital Church of St. Helena, Prior's Cloister, interior church side, c. 1480
NSH 3 Hospital Church of St. Helena, Prior's Cloister, interior
with dependent buildings, c. 1480