The Old Vicarage

The Old Vicarage is a historic house incorporating elements from the 15th century, early 16th century, and 18th century, situated on Crown Street in Methwold. The north range dates to the 15th century, with an early 16th-century brick north gable, and a south range added in the 18th century, constructed of clunch. The roof is pantiled.

The main part of the house is a two-storey timber-framed structure with a jetty to the west. The timber framing exhibits close studding, supported by wall shafts carrying carved braces to the bressumer above, featuring polygonal crenellated capitals. The ground floor window is a six-light mullioned timber window, while the first floor has a five-light mullioned window to the left, alongside a 20th-century casement. The east wall is also timber-framed with close studding, and features two four-light mullioned timber windows on the first floor. The north gable is stepped above moulded brick kneelers in three tiers. A prominent octagonal external chimney rises through the centre of the gable, terminating in three octagonal flues. The chimney displays four tiers of decorative brickwork, including plain, cusped trefoil arches (with terracotta trefoils), brick diaper, and a vertical chevron meander. The gable has two windows on each floor, set beneath moulded basket arches (cable motif to the ground floor, hollow moulded brick to the first floor), with late 20th-century sashes. There are also two 2-light arched attic windows from the 16th century.

A two-storey, three-bay south extension incorporates a 20th-century door, a plain doorcase, and flat hood. It has two 20th-century sash windows to the right and three 20th-century casements to the first floor, with a gabled roof that continues with the rest of the building. Tumbling is visible in the head of the south gable.

The lounge (lower north room) features a freestanding chimney breast with a fireplace and moulded brick jambs in a chevron pattern. It includes a drilled and billeted bressumer, close studding timber framing, and heavy scantling. Spine beams and two bridging beams are present, each with double rolls in chamfers, spiral ribbon decoration, and ogeed tongue stops. Joists have rolled edges. Bridging beams rest on wall posts elaborated into pilasters with splay capitals and five astragal rolls. The dining room to the south also displays close stud framing. The upper north room contains a similar fireplace with moulded chevron brick jambs. Cross bridging beams are carved with double rolls in chamfers and ogeed tongue stops, and the joists have rolled edges. Wall posts carry arched braces to a wall plate beneath the bridging beams. The walls are adorned with various floral, scrolled, and figurative motifs. There's one blocked three-light hollow chamfered mullion window. The study (to the south) features similar bridging beams, joists, framing, and wall paintings, with braces from wall posts acting as tension braces. The roof is a 17th-century replacement, with principals carrying collars on arched braces, through purlins and arched wind bracing.