The Swan Pit And Sluice The Great Hospital

1188/0/10121 BISHOPSGATE 12-JUN-02 The Swan Pit and Sluice, The Great Hos pital

II

Swan pit and attached sluice. Late C18, restored late C19 with C20 alteration. Painted brick. Large rectangular pool with brick sides, those to north, west and south of late C18 painted brick. The east wall was rebuilt in stock brick in late C19 with ashlar egg and dart moulding to coping. At both eastern corners are brick paved ramps. Attached to the north a stone sided channel with two C19 sluice gates which link the pit with the River Wensum. The sluices ensure that the pit is filled at high tide, not allowed to empty at low tide. This very rare 'swan pit' was used for the breeding of local swans for the Master of the Great Hospital, Norwich, who since medieval times had the right to cull swans and provide them for feasts.