Numbers 3, 5 And 7 Including 3A, 5A, 5B And 5C, And Flats 1, 2 And 3 At Number 7

Terrace of three commercial premises with domestic accommodation above, located on Church Street in Cromer. Built around 1900. The building is constructed of gault brick with red sandstone dressings to the front elevation and red brick to the rear. The roof is composition tile with various ridge stacks. The structure comprises two storeys with attics and cellars below.

The design is in the Artisan Mannerist style, distinguished by three elaborate oriel windows with attic gables above. The three fronts of the terrace are similar in design but incorporate carefully considered differences in façade details to create visual interest. The first floor features a 10-window range, each with stone or painted stone surrounds and canted oriels. The surviving sash windows on both first floor and attic levels are plain to the lower lights and have glazing bars to the upper lights.

Number 3 is arranged with a pilaster to the far left, followed by a 3-light window with hipped dormer over, then the canted oriel with fine wooden mouldings. This incorporates a 2-light dormer above with scrolling consoles to the sides and a curved pediment. A single-light window follows. A pilaster divides this from Number 5, which has a single-light window to the left, then a similar oriel and dormer, followed by another single-light window, a pilaster, a further single-light and a final pilaster. Number 7 begins with the oriel and dormer on the left, then a single-light window, a 2-light window with hipped dormer over, and a final pilaster to the right.

The ground floors contain shop fronts and entrance doors, with cornices supported on curved brackets. Number 3 retains elements of the original 1900 shopfront. Number 5 is largely 20th century but has original upper lights to the right window. Number 7 retains original jambs with 20th century glazing. The rear elevations have undergone alterations including 20th century windows and extensions, though some original sash windows survive, including those on the rear wings which feature square oriels.

Interior features include a glazed inner doorway at Number 3 with patterned leading and stained glass. Number 3 has a fine staircase with turned balusters and newels and an elaborate arrangement of flights at the landing, with a separate continuation to the attic floor. A large landing window with patterned leading and stained glass is also present. The first floor contains a grey marble fireplace in a reception room, and rooms generally retain moulded cornices. The shop, the earliest recorded occupant dating to 1901, has painted matchboard panelling to walls and ceiling. Number 5 also retains matchboard panelling to part of the shop interior and has a moulded cornice elsewhere. A dogleg stair with turned balusters and newels leads to the first floor, where a landing window with patterned leading and stained glass is found. The staircase reportedly continues upwards but is covered in. Number 7 has a 20th century shop interior with a lowered ceiling but retains elements of a stair with turned balusters and newels.

This finely detailed composition of shops with accommodation above exemplifies the high point of Cromer's expansion as a seaside resort around 1900 and forms part of a group of historic buildings with Flint House and Numbers 1 and 1A Church Street adjoining to the left.