NHER 425 (Building record) - St Michael-at-Plea's Church, Redwell Street, Norwich

1954. Listed, Grade I.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Former parish church now redundant. 15th century. Flint with stone and brick dressings. Lead roofs. West tower, nave and chancel. North and south transepts, south chancel chapel. South porch. Three stage tower with diagonal buttresses."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current details.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2017. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 8 November 2019.

'St Michael's Wymer, St Michael at Mot stone' in existence by 1190-1200.
Probably earlier, see (S2).
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

1852. Stray Find.
Found in churchyard at St Michael at Plea church "...seven feet [c.2.1m] below surface":
Medieval brass Walsingham discoidal pilgrim badge with two figures facing, the one on the left standing while the one on the right is kneeling, with an ewer between them.
The Norwich Castle Museum holds a post-medieval gutta percha replica of this object (NWHCM : 1852.26).
Information from NCM records. This object is amongst those noted in (S9).
P. Watkins (HES), 14 October 2024.

1973. Building Survey.
Church assessed by Council for Places of Worship ahead of proposed closure.
See report (S3) for further details including lists of furnishings, fittings and monuments.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2017.

Extended in 1980 and 1986.

1979-80. Excavation.
East end excavation to prop up church.
Anglo-Saxon rim, Thetford ware.
Medieval sherds including stamped. Green glazed Grimston.
W. Milligan (NCM).

1970s or 1980.
Considered as part of Norwich Survey.
See record forms (S4) for annotated plans.
P. Watkins (HES), 7 September 2017.

February 1986. Watching Brief.
Contexts 1 to 7 used.
Conversion of church of St Michael-at-Plea entailed excavation work in three areas.
(1) The southeast chapel where the floor was lowered by about 50cm.
Only rubble, probably 19th century in date, observed (2).
(3) Drainage trench uncovered a wall of dressed flint (five courses) surmounted by one course of brickwork. It was rendered on its west (interior) face. Wall was running south towards the north wall of the chancel.
One fragmentary skeleton uncovered at base.
Finds include ?early medieval ware.
During work on the fabric of the church painted fragments of biblical texts observed on south wall of the chancel immediately east of arch to the southeast chapel and on the south wall of that chapel.
See notes (S5) and photographs (S6) for further details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 18 September 2017.

Photographs of restoration in file.
Painted panels of 14th/15th century date from the church are now in the Cathedral.
E. Rose (NLA), 5 January 2001.

April 2004. Field Observation.
Report that holes dug in floor of nave without archaeological supervision. (Church, property of Norwich Historic Churches Trust, formerly an antiques bazaar now being converted to SPCK Bookshop)
Visited by E. Rose (NLA) but could not gain access; however, spoilheap clearly visible through window.
Further report to come from A. Hutcheson (NLA). It was however noted on this occasion that the southeast chapel has an external stoup which reuses a Norman bowl.
E. Rose (NLA), 30 April 2004.

April 2004. Field Observation.
Hole dug on north side of nave.
Found evidence of a former wall; probably north wall of previous nave.
See photographs (S8).
A. Hutcheson (NLA), 30 April 2004.

August 2004. Watching Brief.
NAU watching brief. From context 10.
No report on this work has been received. It is assumed that the work was either entirely negative or didn't take place.
J. Allen (NLA), 23 August 2004. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 30 June 2021.