COW TOWER

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The remains of the medieval structure known as Cow Tower is one of the earliest artillery blockhouses to have been built and is an impressive example of the use of brick in the medieval period. It was originally the toll house for a monastery founded in 1249. It was ruinous by 1378 and converted to form part of the city's defences in the late 14th century (completed by 1390) with 12 gunports. It was further altered in the 15th century. The size of the cruciform loops indicates that only handguns would have been used through the loopholes; larger guns could have been mounted on the roof platform, to fire through the embrasures in the parapet. Cow Tower is managed by Norwich City Council.

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(TG 23960919) Cow Tower (NR) (Remains of). (1)

Cow tower stands in isolation on the city side of the southward turn of the river. It is brick built, standing on a stone plinth above which stand four courses of galleted flints. It is about 15.2m high and has an internal diameter of 7.3m. with walls 1.8m thick. Quatrefoil slits are visible in the south walls. (2)

Originally a river toll house for one of the monastic orders. Later it was given to the Great Hospital, and being in ruinous condition in 1378, was rebuilt to form part of the city defences [TG 20 NW 10], being finished in 1390. (3)

As described in Authority (2). See Ground Photographs. (4)

One of the defences of the Norwich Benedictine Priory, evidently built to garrison a considerable number of men, having chimneys built into the walls. Believed to to be the oldest brick building in England. Scheduled as an Ancient Monument. (5)

Scheduled.

Cow Tower as been identified as an early form of artillery tower or blockhouse. It was ruinous by 1378 and converted to form part of the city's defences in the late 14th century. It was further altered in the 15th century. The size of the cruciform loops indicates that only handguns would have been used through the loopholes; larger guns could have been mounted on the roof platform, to fire through the embrasures in the parapet. Please see scheduled monument description for full details. (6)

The tower has 12 gunports. (7)

This site is listed in the English Heritage Visitor Handbook 2009/10. Cow Tower is managed by Norwich City Council. (8)

SOURCE TEXT

(1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 25" 1938

(2) by Hilary L Turner 1971 Town defences in England and Wales: an architectural and documentary study AD 900-1500

Page(s)135

(3) General reference

Blomefield F 1806 History of Norfolk 4 Page(s)402

(4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 25/06/1954

(5) English Heritage 1996 County list of Scheduled Monuments : March 1996

Norfolk

(6) Scheduled Monument Notification

07-AUG-1996

(7) Fortress Study Group Fort : the international journal of fortification and military architecture

4, 1977 Page(s)83

(8) 2009 English Heritage Visitor Handbook 2009/10

Page(s)139

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