NHER 9657 (Building record) - Ruins of Trowse Newton Hall

Formerly country seat of Priors of Norwich, with chapel attached.
Edward III lodged there.
After Dissolution became a retirement home for deans of Norwich, then a farm. Present remains date from about 1450; demolished about 1860. North wall survives with large rectangular window with remains of Perpendicular style tracery under a brick relieving arch, and springing from a stone string course. Above is base of another window. Wall is of mixed flint and brick with stone quoins. Scanty remains of east wall covered in ivy; stub of west wall in modern brick. No trace of Perpendicular style door to north as recorded by (S1).
Visited by E. Rose (NAU).

16 April 1977.
Cutting of undergrowth revealed that portion of north wall mentioned above is a slightly projecting wing: wall extends further to west and is of flint. A Perpenicular style doorway was revealed (opposite the one mentioned by (S1)) in a slight return of the south wall. Walls brick clad inside.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU).

Informant states that a sale document of around 1900 refers to the ruins of the Hall and separately the ruins of a priory; although there was never a priory here, this implies two groups of ruins were visible then. She suggested earthworks to east of ruins related to this, but after site visit A. Rogerson (NLA) states these are old pits of recent date.
Sketch plan in file.
Copy of agreement for repair of ruins 1990 in file (S2).
Compield by E. Rose (NLA), 19 November 1991.

1998. Building Survey.
Survey of ruins.
See (S3) for plans and details of proposed restoration. This report indicates a separate gateway a considerable distance south of the main ruins, within site NHER 24793.
E. Rose (NLA), 1998. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 5 March 2015.

8 June 1999. Watching Brief.
Removal of vegetation revealed previously un-recorded blocked doorway or window on the interior of the northern wall.
Excavation 0.60 x 1.00 metre in southern corner of building revealed the top of the foundation for the south western wall. Top of foundation constructed of large flint cobbles and fragments of medieval brick with mortar bonding.
See report (S5) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S6).
Compiled by S. Tremlett (NLA), 9 March 2000.

Report for June 1999 work also mentions destruction of building in food riots of 1766 and its later deliberate ruination in 1860.
E. Rose (NLA), 5 January 2000.

In May 1108 a court was held at Norwich in the presence of Henry I at which the monks sued successfully to regain confiscated lands at 'Newton by Trowse'. This probably refers to this site and coupled with the fact that early references are to Newton Hall, suggest this is the site of the mysterious Newton that combined with Trowse.
See (S4).
E. Rose (NLA), 5 January 2001.