NHER 9 (Monument record) - Site of Ber Street Gate

1948. Excavation [1] adjacent to electricity sub-station.
Traces of air-raid shelter of World War Two. Few finds, no traces of early bank. Fragment of Late Saxon pottery.
Two sections were cut across the line of the medieval defences, plus other trenches for the N.R.C. and N.N.A.S., courtesy of Norwich Corporation.
The Gatehouse was first mentioned in 1146 AD (S3) and was demolished in 1808.
The stretch of wall running south-east from the angle was set on the crest of a bank of compacted loam around 1ft (0.3m) thick.
The stretch of wall running south-west had foundations around 5ft (1.5m) deep onto the natural gravel.
This differing sequence suggested an early stone gateway set into an earthen bank in mid 12th century, with a bank replaced by a stone wall after around 1290.
The houses immediately adjacent to this site, 3 and 5 Bracondale, were formerly the Richmondhill Tavern. In the late 1970s a query appeared in the NIAS newletter asking for the location of this building as a 19th century account was stated to have identified it as the site of a medieval bell foundry. No further details appeared but there are several excavated examples in other walled towns of bell foundries being dug into earthwork defences.
E. Rose (NLA), 15 September 2000.

The bell foundry was in fact said to be Newman's, which was post medieval in date.
E. Rose (NLA), 5 October 2002.

Probably first mentioned between 1175 AD and 1186 AD in the Liber Albus.
Member of the public states gate pulled down in 1726 and rebuilt with red brick. Archway nearby rebuilt 1727 and north tower pulled down. Gate finally demolished 1808. Wall between Ber Street and Brazen Doors ordered to be rebuilt 1727.
Gate repaired also 1680, 1699.
E. B. Green (NCM).