The City wall was built to defend the north and west sides of medieval Norwich while the east side was protected by the river. Built in flint the wall was completed in the early 14th century and maintained until the late 18th century, when the gateways were demolished.
Over time, much of the wall has disappeared. Buildings gradually encroached on it and sections collapsed or were plundered for building materials. Parts were demolished for redevelopment and road widening.
Today, 15 sections survive above ground. These include Cow Tower and the towers at Carrow Hill.
The Norwich City Wall Survey 1999 - 2002
In the late 1990s, Norwich City Council's Conservation and Design Section commissioned Purcell Miller Tritton and Historic Building Surveys Ltd to produce a survey of the City's medieval defensive walls which still surround much of the City centre.
The purpose of the survey was to record the historic structure, photographically and with an accurate measured survey, to create a record of the surviving wall and towers. A condition survey was also carried out, as was research into lost city gates and sections of wall. A huge amount of historic information was discovered and this has been drawn together in the report. The survey has helped the Council and other bodies such as English Heritage to make informed decisions when dealing with the city wall and provides a fascinating history and record of these important structures.
Click here for the Norwich City Wall Survey
Please note that to view the drawings in the survey you will need to install a plug-in - a pop-up box will prompt you to do this.
If you have any queries about the city walls, please contact the Urban Design and Conservation team on 01603 212200.