NHER 55273 (Monument record) - Earlham Road chalk mines

1991. Structural and mapping survey. Context 1.
The entrance to the tunnels can be found in the bottom of a small quarry north of the group of buildings.
Initially brick lined, the tunnels are left unsupported the further in they go. They had to be supported during the survey as in many places the roof and walls were in an advanced state of collapse, so much so that several areas of the mine were inaccessible. These collapses were likely caused by changes in the surface hydrology as water distribution systems were modernised over time, altering the water content of the chalk.
The flint and lime from here was likely used in the construction of the numerous churches and friaries in the city, and almost certainly provided some to the mass of stone used for the city wall.
This mine was rediscovered in 1823 during the sinking of a well and was open to the public for some time. The tunnels became famous in 1988 when a collapse to surface 'sank' a double Decker bus.
See (S1).
W. Arnold (HES), 23 February 2011.

Area of the site was extended to include mine workings detailed on a map in newspaper article (S3). This map is copied from a plan of the mines made in 1823 and it attempts to superimpose the mines on the 1930's Norwich Street plan and shows the 'street' names given to the tunnels when the site was opened as a visitor attraction. With the accompanying article, it suggests that a set of 'blue-brick' steps, sited to the west of 'White House', 5 Earlham Road, was constructed for the 19th century reopening of the mines. The article, (S3), also states that H. B. Woodward's memoirs of 1881 say that the mines were 8 feet high, 2 to 5 feet wide and totalled some 4600 feet, while newspaper article (S4) says that the tunnels were discovered at a depth of 35 feet. An inscription reading 'John Bond 1571' was found on the wall of the tunnel near the entrance and articles (S4) and (S5) say that Bond was the draftsman who had made a plan of the tunnels at this date. The mines probably went out of use shortly after 1571 because Blomefield (S6) notes that in 1578 the Mayor of Norwich ordered that "the narrow way at St. Giles's gate [be] enlarged by casting down the hills", suggesting that the spoil heaps from the mines were levelled, in readiness for a visit by Queen Elizabeth I.
Details from newspaper articles (S3)-(S5) and monograph (S6). Also see newspaper articles (S7) and (S8).
A. Beckham (HES), 12 January 2021.