====== St. Austins Lane ======

It is often said that Harwich is laid out in a “medieval grid iron pattern” and St. Austins Lane is one of the streets that cuts across from east to west.

The “lane” looks quite wide today but in medieval times it was very narrow and old photographs show that there would have been insufficient width for a modern car.

The old town wall once ran along the eastern end of the lane and there was a gate, called St. Austins Gate, that provided access to the shore and the water.

The next medieval “block” south of St. Austins lane was once occupied by the grand house owned of the Earls of Norfolk – effectively the “founders” of Harwich – and on the northern side at the eastern end was the “great house” of Thomas Moore which is where Queen Elizabeth I was reputed to have stayed when she visited Harwich in 1561.

The properties on the northern side of St. Austins Lane are some of the oldest buildings still standing in Harwich, dating from the 15th century.

===== Buildings =====

  * [[12a_st_austins_lane|12A St. Austins Lane]]
  * [[13_st_austins_lane|13 St. Austins Lane]]
  * [[14_st_austins_lane|14 St. Austins Lane]]