The Old Vicarage

TL 5663 SWAFFHAM PRIOR HIGH STREET (West. Side) 15/191 No 72 The Old Vicarage

II

House, formerly the vicarage, built in two sections by Dr Peter Allix whilst he was vicar of Swaffham Prior from 1712-53. Principal range of pink brick on a sill, with red brick dressings and details. The thickness of the walls suggests that the brick is a casing to a clunch core. Steeply pitched hipped roof, raised by approximately one foot and the eaves coved c1900. Plain tiled. The right hand gable end has a projecting stack which has been enlarged to accommodate the flue for an additional hearth in an upstairs room. Double pile plan. Two storeys, attics and cellars. Two c1900 gable dormers. The main elevation is in four window bays with an off-centre doorway. The facade is framed by red brick rusticated quoins and divided by short lengths of moulded banding between the storeys and above each of the ground floor windows. Flat arches of gauged red brick to four original hung sashes of eight panes each with ovolo moulded glazing bars. The surrounds of the windows have rustication in similar red brick. At ground floor, one similar window and two later hung sashes of twelve panes each in original openings. The door is also contemporary, with raised and fielded panels but the lean-to porch roof on brackets is c1900. The rear wall has segmental arches to three flush frame hung sashes of twelve panes each. The service wing to the left hand is of a similar date and also of clunch, cased on front and rear walls in the'same pink brick with red brick dressings and details, but the gable end wall has not been cased. The ridges and eaves lines of the two parallel, linked gable roofs are at a lower height than that of the principal range. There is a dentil eaves cornice and restored gable end parapet on kneelers. End stacks with typical late C17 or early C18 projecting capping. Two storeys and cellar. Four similar eight pane hung sashes also with original ovolo mullion glazing bars, but in segmental arches. The bay window is late C19. Inside. One large room has intact raised and fielded panelling with a bolection moulded dado rail. The doors are also panelled and the fireplace has an eared surround contemporary with the early C18 panelling. The staircase is a good example of its period. It is of four flights with a closed-string, square newel posts and turned balusters in the form of urns. The first floor rooms have doorways with round headed arches in square heads. The moulded cornice of the heads is linked to the arch by a raised key block. Other original details include doors with H and L hinges. One cellar is brick lined, and one of the bricks is reputed to be incised with the date 1721.

R.C.H.M. (North East Cambs.), p123, mon (6)

Listing NGR: TL5664263921