The Smokehouse

The Smokehouse is a mid-19th century smokehouse, partially remodelled and later used as a domestic dwelling. It is located in an industrial outbuilding to the rear of 5 St Ann's Street, within the True's Yard fishing museum complex in King's Lynn.

The building is constructed of red brick, laid in English bond, with a pantile roof. The north elevation has 20th-century windows and a single-storey range projecting northwards. Two infilled ventilation slits, indicating the original smokehouse function, are visible at the first floor of the east end. The south elevation is blind. Attached to the rear corner, a boundary wall extends eastwards, enclosing the southern boundary of True's Yard. The building is physically attached to number 5 St Ann's Street, which has not been assessed as having special architectural interest.

Internally, the smokehouse at the east end is the primary feature. A mezzanine floor, supported by bridging beams (one encased), formerly provided access to the fish racks on the first floor, but this access has been obscured by later remodelling. At ground floor, the smokehouse has a blackened brick floor and a later inserted ceiling. The walls on the north, south, and east of the first floor are smoke-blackened. The original ventilation slit's wooden framing and one shutter survive, despite the slits having been infilled with brick. The roof structure retains a smoke blackened ridge piece, collars and rafters.

The smokehouse served the fishmonger Thomas Westwood’s business from 1889, with his shop located at number 3 St Ann's Street. The building was converted into residential use in the 20th century, but the smokehouse itself remained largely intact until its rediscovery in the early 21st century. It is designated at Grade II for its rarity as a building type, its good level of preservation, the presence of key architectural features, its connection to King’s Lynn’s fishing history, and its group value with other related buildings in the area.