Tudor Lodgings And Attached Service Wing/Cottage

Tudor Lodgings and Attached Service Wing/Cottage at Pales Green, Castle Acre

A former pair of lodgings, now a single dwelling with an attached service wing. The main range dates to the 16th century and was refurbished in the 20th century. The building is constructed of knapped and galletted flint with keyed brick dressings; the gable-ends are coursed flint with keyed brick dressings. The roof is pantile, and some re-used ashlar can be seen in blocked openings. The building is rectangular in plan, originally divided into two separate dwellings, and comprises two storeys with an attic and cellar.

The nearly symmetrical south facade features an arched entrance to a former through passage at the western end, originally not providing access to the adjacent dwelling but instead connecting the entrance facade with the street to the rear. The arch comprises three chamfered orders on plain responds, supported laterally by a staged buttress. Two doorways at opposite ends have chamfered reveals. Four original long windows have been reduced in length and fitted with 20th-century frames. Two tiny square stair windows appear on the facade; the eastern one has a moulded brick panel pierced to form the shape of a star. A diagonally set square panel of similar size is placed symmetrically and displays a brick panel moulded with the shape of a rose. An off-centre axial stack rises through the facade with four truncated square chimney shafts. The western gable peak is decorated with a pinnacle in the form of a miniature ribbed chimney shaft with a moulded base and star top.

The north facade shows three original long windows now blocked, and the entrance to the former through passage is also blocked. One seven-light mullion window at first-floor level survives in its original opening and retains an original moulded lintel. A pair of tiny blocked square garderobe windows are positioned opposite the stack.

The interior of the main range contains roll-moulded principal and common joists of different profiles in each of the two downstairs rooms and on the first floor. Moulded cornice beams appear at both levels. Two opposed winding staircases to the south side of the stack provide vertical circulation. Garde-robes to the north side at first-floor level include one with a visible chute. Open fireplaces are fitted with timber bressumers. A fine clasped purlin roof with straight windbracing covers the space.

The service wing is attached to the eastern end of the main range by a linking passage and a 20th-century garden room. This wing is a former cottage, originally a pair, now serving as a service wing. It dates to the early 19th century but incorporates medieval masonry in its front wall and 16th-century brick in the rear wall. The structure is built of flint and stone with a stone plinth, brick dressings, and end lean-tos. The roof is a hipped pantile with a brick central ridge stack. The front face is oriented to the east and the wing comprises two storeys.

The exterior of the wing features a four-window range at first-floor level of two-light casements. A central ornamental panel displays carved medieval masonry reused in the construction. Below are two three-light casements with glazed doors to the far left and right, a glazed door in the left lean-to, and a three-light casement in the right lean-to. The front decoratively incorporates many pieces of fine medieval moulded mullions set on end to display the pattern. The rear is blank except for a linking doorway and backs onto a passage and the 20th-century garden room extension to the main range. The rear northwestern corner appears to be the left jamb of an original 16th-century doorway once in the main range and now forming an outside gate to a small yard. Some of the wall behind also appears to be of 16th-century date.

The interior of the wing contains back-to-back open fireplaces with a brick arch supported by an iron hoop. Plank doors and a simple stair are original features, as is the roof. The service wing, recently incorporated within the main range, is included in this listing by virtue of amendment.