The Bassingham gate - Norwich, Norfolk, Great Britain.
N 52° 37.716 E 001° 17.514
31U E 384392 N 5832326
Norwich Guildhall is an historic listed building on Gaol Hill in the city of Norwich, The Bassingham gate portal at 57-59 London Street was removed and relocated to the Medieval Guildhall building, in 1857.
Waymark Code: WMGQCN
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/31/2013
Views: 4
The Guildhall is constructed of knapped flint and ashlar, it currently serves as the offices of Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust and also contains a Caley's Café.
The Bassingham gate, is now located since 1857 on the South side of this medieval Guildhall. The Door was previously located on house at London Street, Norwich.
"The Bassingham gate - Portal at 57-59 London Street was removed for widening in 1857. The Door & Portal was bought by William Wilde for twelve pounds.
It is deeply misleading. Arnold Kent writing in 1949 noted that the arms of Henry VII above those of the Goldsmiths Company and the City of Norwich could no longer be made out. They have been crudely recut - presumably after 1949." Text Source: (
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There is a blue plaque located to the left of the door that reads:-
FORMERLY THE ENTRANCE TO THE HOUSE/IN LONDON STREET OF JOHN BASSINGHAM/GOLDSMITH DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY VIII. / IT WAS ERECTED HERE IN 1857
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"The Guildhall was constructed to enable the greater self-governing powers conferred upon Norwich by the Charter of 1404 to be administered more efficiently. Prisoners first occupied the crypts of the building in 1412. Two timber and tile towers on the north and south sides of the building were destroyed when the roof of the Council Chamber collapsed in 1511. In 1534 a new Council Chamber was completed. As part of the works, the exterior wall of the eastern face of the new Chamber was faced with chequered flint work and freestone, and a central panel containing a fragment of the Arms of Henry VIII, flanked by the City Arms and the arms of the St George’s Company. Additions to the south side of the building were constructed in 1861 by Thomas Barry, the City Surveyor.
Civic affairs were conducted in the building until 1938, when the new City Hall was opened. Magistrates' Courts continued to be held in the old Common Council Chamber until 1977 and prisoners were held in the building until 1980. Work to restore and strengthen the Guildhall clock tower began in July 2010." Text Source: (
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The Guildhall is one of the 12 historic Norwich buildings in the Norwich 12 initiative, a project to develop an integrated group of heritage attractions in Norwich. See Link: (
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