Case 3 – The Hidden Street, Castle Meadow, Norwich

History

Hidden beneath Castle Meadow in Norwich lies one of the city's most fascinating archaeological discoveries, commonly known as The Hidden Street. Dating back to the 15th century, this underground area preserves parts of a medieval street that once bustled with homes, workshops, and businesses. Over the centuries, Norwich's landscape changed as buildings were altered, roads were raised, and new developments were constructed above the original street level. Gradually, parts of the medieval streetscape disappeared from view, becoming sealed beneath later buildings and forgotten by all but a few historians.

Today, the Hidden Street survives beneath The Shoebox building on Castle Meadow, offering visitors a rare glimpse into medieval Norwich. The underground remains include original walls, timber structures, undercrofts, and evidence of former workshops and dwellings. Guided tours explore the lives of the merchants, craftsmen, prisoners, and residents who once lived and worked in this area, while also examining local legends of tunnels, ghosts, and lost passages beneath the city. The site provides a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience a section of Norwich's history that has remained hidden for centuries beneath the modern city.

Our investigation