NHER 26496 (Monument record) - Post-medieval sweetshop, Golden Ball Street

October 1998. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation in advance of development.
The 17th century sweetshop that stood here had fallen into dereliction and disrepair after it closed for business in 1976. Builders wanted to incorporate the building into the new cinema multiplex that was planned for the Castle Mall site but were forced to seek archaeological consultation. The shop had to be largely rebuilt as many of the timbers had badly decayed but many of the original bricks and flint cobbles were used in this process. During the course of work on this building a number of important medieval lead seals were recovered. One of these was owned by 'Margaret wife of Tom' and dated to the 13th century. It is also stated by Brian Ayers (NLA) that the area the shop is located in has evidence of 8th century activity. There was some controversy about the restoration regarding the planning permission required to alter listed buildings.

The evaluation located the terminus of the Castle Fee ditch, which was shown to be a recutting of the Late Saxon burgh ditch. The terminus of the Castle's south bailey ditch was also recorded.
Report awaited. The results of this work are summarised in (S1). See also press cuttings (S2)-(S3) and (S4).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (main archive accessioned as NWHCM : 2010.273, post-medieval Tudor ceramic money box as NWHCM : 2011.26.38 and medieval lead seal as NWHCM : 2011.36.2).
E. Rose (NLA) 16 October 1998. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 26 January 2017.