(27) 21-23 Castle Meadow Undercroft (Missing Kind/ KindaKafe)
Updated 03/04/2020
NUMBER 21-23 CASTLE MEADOW – Missing Kind/ Kinda Cafe
Beneath the former Ponds shoe shop is a cellar which is reached from within the shop by a set of steps.
From this cellar, another set of steps leads to a far more interesting cellar.
It had only recently been opened up and work done to tidy it up when I first visited.
Most of it has flat ceilings but there are two vaulted chambers.
The unvaulted area is divided into two rooms.
The 2 vaulted chambers have floors at a lower level.
The smaller one at the front of the building and extending beneath the pavement has a pointed barrel-vault of brick with flint rubble walls. In the right-hand corner there is a concrete faced wall which partially blocks the vaulting. It has been used as a cell and contains the frame of an old bedstead and there are bars across the front of the chamber.
Though there are stories about it being a tunnel leading to the castle, I tend to agree with Robert Smith that it is probably an undercroft. According to Brian Ayers it is post medieval.
The second chamber is at right angles to and set back from the street line. It is also a pointed barrel vault and has brick vaulting and flint rubble walls.
It is longer than the other chamber and the entrance to it is partially blocked by a more recent support wall. It is filled with infill rubbish to a depth of at least four feet and so it is impossible to step very far into it and only the upper part of the end wall can be seen. This appears to be of brick and flint.
This undercroft dates from the 15th century according to Brian Ayers who did an inspection of the cellars with Stephen Haywood in September 2017.
Since my visit it has been open for regular tours which are proving very popular.
Missing Kind/ KindaKafe – Hidden History Tour
“A fascinating tour of the historic basement and undercroft lying beneath KindaKafe in Norwich, led by a local storyteller, historian and performer.
Ponder the myths of eerie prison cells, hidden streets and curious tunnels. Come help us unlock the many mysteries of this space…”
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