King'S House

THETFORD

TL8683 KING STREET 617-1/5/76 (North side) 03/04/51 King's House

GV II

House, said to have had C17 origins and to have been used as King James I's hunting lodge. Rebuilt 1763, converted to municipal offices 1950-51. Flint and re-used ashler. Facade with gault brick skin and red brick dressings. Slate roofs. 2 storeys in 5 bays. Central C20 glazed door in panelled reveals. Doorcase of reeded and fluted engaged Ionic columns supporting entablature and pediment. Two 6/6 unhorned sashes right and left under red brick gauged skewback arches. 5 similar to first floor, except for left 2 sashes, which are horned replacements. Modillion cornice below parapet with a central achievement. Gabled roof with 3 gabled dormers fitted with 2-light casements. Internal gable-end stacks. House is formed of 3 gabled roofs running east-west. East return with conservatory butting onto curved flint wall to south studded with re-used ashlar fragments with carving. West return with a 2-storey flint extension with red brick dressings and a hipped slate roof. 2 bays with two 6/6 sashes each storey. Medieval fragments re-used. INTERIOR: plan altered to form offices. Staircase with wrought-iron balusters and ramped and wreathed handrail. First-floor council chamber is plain. Roofs of principals and taper-tenoned butt purlins.

Listing NGR: TL8696083161