The parish of St Peter Southgate, as its name suggests, is the southernmost parish within the ancient city of Norwich and was centred on King Street, at one time the main approach to the city centre until later developments. The area was immediately south of the River Wensum as it flowed through the city and was lined by wharves which employed many of the population of this parish as porters, boat builders as well as watermen. Norwich was a significant inland port for the export of its cloth production as well as the movement of agricultural goods by its wherries. The area had, at one time a distinctly unsavoury reputation as Norwich's "red light district", a trait shared with ports the world over, but has nowadays become somewhat gentrified and subject to extensive redevelopment that has seen the port disappear along with the breweries and industry that once lined King Street. Today its position on the riverside sees it as an attractive place to live and it is also convenient for Norwich's station too.

St Peter Southgate church is no more, it was demolished shortly after the end of this transcript period in 1887 having been deemed surplus to religious requirement. Only a few shapeless parts of the former tower remains to mark the site. Whilst the church had ancient origins it was largely a product of the 14th century and most likely to have been in the Perpendicular style of the latter half of that century. Further work was added in Tudor times but the church fell into disrepair and it was deemed beyond remedy, its position on a steeply sloping site made repair difficult and expensive.