Bleak House

Bleak House, located at 26 Debenham High Street, is a Grade II* listed building originally part of a former inn, dating from around 1540. The structure is timber framed with exposed studding and herringbone brick nogging, although much of the nogging on the High Street side has been renewed. The rear is plastered, and the roof is covered with plain tiles. The house has two storeys and an attic, featuring a continuous jetty supported by original brackets, though only the caps of the buttress shafts remain. The corner post displays intricate carving on the cap, spandrels, and base, which is significantly weathered. Below the jetty, the mid rail is moulded. The building has various casement windows, mostly old, and a six-panel door with the upper two panels glazed, accessed by a short flight of steps.

On the gable end facing Gracechurch Street, there is an original cellar entrance with a wide timber arch, alongside a smaller brick arch. Evidence of oriel windows can be seen above on both floors. Inside, the corner room features moulded floor beams with concealed joists, likely serving as a parlour. The chamber above has a blocked fireplace with an original lintel, notable for its exceptional width for an upper room. There is a continuous gallery at the rear. The queen-post roof has seen much of its bracing removed, and several rafters on the front slope were renewed in the mid-20th century. One tie beam appears to be a later replacement made of softwood, with solid braces bolted to the wall posts. For information on the remainder of the former inn, see No. 28 High Street and Nos. 1-3 Gracechurch Street. Drawings of the complete frame can be found with Mr. T. Easton at Bedfield Hall.