NHER 573 (Building record) - St John de Sepulchre's Church, Ber Street, Norwich

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Summary

The main building of this parish church dates largely to the 15th and 16th century, and is made of flint with stone and brick dressings. The church itself has a domineering appearance, situated within plain sight of the Berestrete Gate of the old city walls, and it must have made a bold impact on visitors entering the city during the medieval period. The church has a chancel, as well as north and south transept chapels, a south vestry and a north porch. This church is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

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Location

Map sheet TG20NW
Civil Parish NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK

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Church of St John de Sepulchre, Ber Street.

Probably pre-1100 on architectural grounds. Mentioned Domesday Book of 1176.
Note from A. B. Whittingham 1963: Transepts are the surviving Late Saxon portion.
No Saxon work visible in interior.
R. R. Clarke (NCM).

1954. Listed Grade I.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Parish Church. 15th and 16th century. Flint with stone and brick dressings. Lead roof to nave, pin tile to chancel. West tower, nave and chancel. North and south transept chapels. North porch. South vestry. Thee-stage tower with four-stages of diagonal buttressing and stair turret in south-east corner."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current details.
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 January 2018. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 8 November 2019.

1970s or 1980s. Building Survey.
Examined as part of Norwich Survey.
See draft report (S2) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 January 2018.

July 1984. Building Survey.
Church assessed by the Council for the Care of Churches ahead of proposed closure.
See report (S3) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 16 January 2018.

The bells were given to Erpingham church in 1987.
See file for further details.

Transepts more likely to be late Medieval - Late Saxon attributes are, in fact, Medieval brick over a pointed arch window. Is the Domesday book reference incorrect and, in fact, 1086?
K Hamilton (HES) and S Heywood (HES) 21 August 2012.

  • --- Article in Serial: Boileau, J. P. 1864. Returns of Church Goods in the Churches of the City of Norwich, 6 Edward VI. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol VI pp 360-378. pp 372-373.
  • --- Article in Serial: Jope, E. M. 1952. Excavations in the City of Norwich, 1948. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXX pp 287-323. p 320.
  • --- Leaflet: Norwich Historic Churches Trust & HEART. St John de Sepulchre, Finkelgate..
  • --- Monograph: Blomefield, F. 1806. The History of The City and County of Norwich, Part II. An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk. Vol IV. pp 137-143.
  • --- Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 239-240.
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1989. Bell has found a new home. 8 March.
  • --- Publication: [Unknown]. [unknown]. Palimpsests Behind 'Norfolk' Brasses (N).
  • --- Publication: Cox, J. C. 1911. Country Churches: Norfolk. Vol II. p 180.
  • --- Publication: Messent, C. J. W. 1932. The City Churches of Norwich. pp 42-43.
  • --- Publication: Taylor, H. M. and Taylor, J. 1965. Anglo-Saxon Architecture.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Norwich - Post Roman.
  • --- Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 20 NW 201.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Unpublished Document: Cattermole, P. 1985. Some Norwich Churches as seen in the Obedientiary Rolls of Norwich Cathedral Priory, 1276-1536.
  • --- Website: Knott, S.. 2006. St John Sepulchre, Norwich 'St John the Theologian'. http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/norwichjohnsepulchre/norwichjohnsepulchre.htm. 24 November 2006.
  • <S1> Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1280767.
  • <S2> Unpublished Report: [Unknown]. [unknown]. St John de Sepulchre [draft report]. Building Report.
  • <S3> Unpublished Report: Council for the Care of Churches. 1984. Norwich, St. John de Sepulchre, Norfolk (Norwich). Building Report.

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Record last edited

Mar 8 2022 3:18PM

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