Function and Site: Aspects of Norwich Buildings before 1700

Authors: Smith, Robert; Carter, Alan

Source: Vernacular Architecture, Volume 14, 1983 , pp. 5-18(14)

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Abstract:

Brief description of the characteristics of Norwich's 214 pre-1700 houses is followed by an analysis of eight of the city's brick-built undercrofts. More than eighty domestic examples are known: it is suggested that they were built during the 15th century to provide level, fireproof foundations for timber-framed houses and that they were used for storage. The plans of two well-known buildings, the Bridewell and Strangers' Hall, are re-considered in an attempt to show the effects of site constraint and the limitations of classification by type. A third large building, the Old Barge, is compared with them; and the paper concludes with a discussion of the location, plans and interpretation of a small number of possibly representative middle-sized buildings.

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/030554783786052034

Publication date: 1983-06-01

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