The Tower House, Including Attached Walls And Service Wing

The Tower House, including attached walls and service wing

A large detached house dated 1886 and 1887, thought to have been built by John Norton. The building is constructed in Gothic style, using red brick in stretcher bond with stone dressings and terracotta details. The roofs are tiled with bands of plain and fishscale tiles, finished with clustered moulded brick chimneystacks.

The house has an asymmetrical plan dominated by a tall tower to the rear, from which the building takes its name.

The south or garden elevation is symmetrical and of two storeys with three windows. The central projecting bay features a gable with stone kneelers, incorporating a 4-light cinquefoil oriel to the first floor and a 2-centred arched doorcase with sidelights containing stained glass. On either side are projecting gables with 2-light mullioned and transomed windows, and 6-light square bays to the ground floor with trefoil-headed mullioned and transomed windows. Carved stone balconettes sit above, with a band of terracotta panels below.

The west elevation is of two storeys and attics with three windows. A large projecting gable to the south contains a double sash to the second floor, a 3-light oriel to the first floor, and a French window with coloured glazing to the ground floor. A wood and brick conservatory, recently restored, retains all original cast-iron fittings for window adjustment and plant storage. To the north is a projecting chimneystack flanked by double sashes with four moulded brick chimneystacks.

The east side, also of two storeys and attics with three windows, has a projecting gable with a double sash to the attic and a two-storey six-light square bay below with arched heads (ogee to ground floor) and a quatrefoil panel between composed of terracotta quatrefoils. To the north are two double sashes with clustered moulded brick chimneystacks in the angle and a terracotta cockerel on the roof. A terracotta band of leaves and Tudor roses runs between the floors. To the left is a 6-panelled door with a penticed tiled weather-hood on brackets above, approached by three steps. A one-storey service wing extends to the left, featuring a triple sash and a hipped roof, with an attached iron water pump.

The north elevation has gabled returns and a central 5-storey square tower with fretted balcony and octagonal finials at the corners. The tower contains five pivoting windows to the 4th floor, one tripartite mullioned and transomed window to the 3rd floor, two sashes to the 2nd floor, a paired mullioned and transomed window to the 1st floor, and paired sashes to the ground floor. Attached brick walls enclose the service yard and a one-storey outbuilding with a tiled roof. A brick wall on a stone base, attached to the south east, bears a date plaque of 1886 and features two colonnettes with stone moulding and ball caps.

Interior features include stained glass panels enamelled with flowers and birds. Cast iron grates throughout are by Thomas Jekyll for the firm of Bishop and Barnard in Norwich, with one depicting exotic birds. A patent ventilation system with zinc plate architectural hoppers in major rooms features adjustable vents linked to outside air display. The hall contains an original oak staircase and tiled floor. The Drawing Room has a fireplace with fluted frieze. The Dining Room features dado-panelling. The Billiard Room has a pink marble pilastered fire surround.