Old Merchants House

GREAT YARMOUTH

TG5207SW ROW 117 839-1/15/157 (South side) 27/06/53 No.8 Old Merchants House (Formerly Listed as: ROW NO 117, The Rows No.8 Old Merchants House)

II*

Merchant's house. Early C17, bombed 1942 and restored as a museum 1950-53. Red brick laid in a random bond and with some flint. Red pantile roof. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and dormer attic; 3-window range. The north front has one 6/6 horned sash to the ground floor and 2 to the first floor, all in altered openings. To the right at first-floor level is a 5-light mullioned window with leaded glazing. Gabled roof with 2 sloping dormers. Access is via a later entrance set in the yard to the west. The east gable-end has a small enclosed yard formed from a boundary wall. The first floor is lit through a 5-light cross casement, above which is a rebuilt chimney flue and a 3-light ovolo-moulded mullioned window right and left lighting the attic. The internal gable-end stack has a truncated octagonal shaft. The south side has 2 replaced sashes to the first floor. INTERIOR: extensive C17 brick cellars. The ground and first floors have had a passage inserted to the south. The ground-floor west room has a plaster ceiling, truncated to the south and east by later partitions. The ceiling is of geometric pattern with moulded ribs. Circular, square and petalled fields. The former centre field has a Royal Arms of James I with the Irish Harp first used in 1603. Floral low-relief patterning and drop pendants with female figures. The fireplace has bolection mouldings. Right and left are strapworked doors with HL and cockshead hinges. The east room has roll-moulded bridging beams and a staircase with turned balusters. The first-floor west room has an early C17 plaster ceiling, truncated to the south and east by inserted partitions. The partitions have reeded and fluted pilasters. Geometric patterns formed of moulded ribs. The centrepiece is an encircled sexfoiled star with the field of floral design. Jelly-mould drop pendants. Bolection-moulded fireplace. The roof structure is of upper crucks, principals, 2 tiers of butt purlins and collars. Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Listing NGR: TG5246207142