Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

The property is now known as Dovecot House, formerly Dovecot, Dovecot Farm and Dovecot Farmhouse. The First Edition Ordnance Survey map (S1) published in 1886 names the property as Dovecot Farm, but it has sometimes been referred to erroneously in publications as 'Dovecote'. See newspaper articles (S2) and (S3) and unpublished document (S4).
A. Beckham (HES), 24 November 2022.

August 1951. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description:
Farmhouse. Late 16th century, restored 1930. Brick with pantiled roofs. F plan with twin cross wings now infilled. Two storeys. South front on plinth course. Two two-light cross casements to ground floor with leaded lights, three similar casements to first floor. Set-off between storeys. Gabled roof with ridge stack left of centre: square stepped plinth carries four octagonal flues with moulded capitals and bases. To west a projecting gabled cross wing, the gable head on kneelers. five-light leaded cross casement to ground floor and one two-light cross casement to first floor. East return to south range with three two-light casements arranged to sides and above a four-centred door within square timber surround. West facade of two storeys in three bays. Central four-centred door in doorcase of two orders shafts with deeply moulded arch. Above is square hood mould on labels raised in centre to accommodate plaque. This door restored. Fenestration of two-light cross casements as before. Gabled roof. Internal north gable stack of square plinth carrying two octagonal flues with moulded capitals and bases. Two storey three bay extension to north with two-light cross casements. Interior. Dining room with chamfered bridging beams and joists. Panelled drawing room (in main west wing) with reeded and fluted Ionic pilasters framing fireplace and windows. Butted bridging beams and joists all chamfered. Dado panelled stairwell and closed string staircase of ball turned balusters.
Information from (S5).

February 1979. Field Observation.
Visual assessment of the exterior of the building only.
Little to add to the Listing description except that the western pair of the four octagonal chimney flues sit on a buttress-like stack descending through the roof. Also, there is a rebuilt octagonal chimney on the northern wing. Windows altered; in south gable mark of a third above others.
See record card (S6).
E. Rose (NLA), 27 February 1979.

October 2004. Field Observation.
Visual assessment of the interior and exterior of the building.
Exterior:
Mansion. Dated 1598 by an inscribed brick on the south elevation.
Originally of ‘F’-shaped plan with the stem of the ‘F’ aligned approximately north-east to south-west, parallel with the road, and the wings projecting north-west. The area between the north-west projecting wings now infilled. A chimney of four octagonal shafts is set at the centre of the main range of the building. The south-eastern of the shafts is set forward of the others and there is other evidence on the exterior and interior of the building to suggest that the stack and shafts have been altered. The best-preserved 16th century brickwork is sited in the north-west facing elevation of the building. The north-east facing elevation has a blocked attic gable window that may have a brickwork arch of 19th century date. An extensive scheme of refurbishment appears to have been undertaken at the property in the 1930s: a large extension was added to the western of the two north-west projecting wings, almost all windows and some doorways appear to have been altered or replaced and much of the interior has been modified.
Interior:
As with the layout of the first floor, the area to the east of the stack was originally a single room. The huge fireplace likely results from the insertion of a Victorian range suggesting this area was used as a kitchen. The range was probably removed during the 1930s refurbishment when partitions were added to create a corridor/entranceway out of the northern and eastern sides of the room. The room to the west of the stack was perhaps entered by the original doorway on the western elevation. The ceiling beams in this room are crude suggesting that they have either been replaced or that they were covered by plaster. The northern portion of the room may originally have been screened off to form a parlour. The wood panelling is 17th century with possible 18th century pilasters added. The current staircase appears to date to the 18th century.
Environs:
Large gardens and ponds with a Listed coped brick boundary wall and walled garden of late 16th century and 18th century date (see NHER 66502). Much altered.
There is an unverified account of an icehouse being discovered by the entrance to the property.
See unpublished report (S7) for further details. See [1].
E. Rose (NLA), 11 October 2004. Amended by A. Beckham, 25 November 2022.

June 2005.
Alteration works including stripping the north-east wing.
The projecting stack was constructed of Fletton bricks with a concrete bressumer suggesting modern date. The wall dividing the north-east wing was confirmed as 16th century in origin and pantries that were removed proved to be of mid-late 20th century breezeblock construction.
See HER Record Notes (S8).
E. Rose (NLA), 10 June 2005.

For further information see unpublished document (S4), newspaper articles (S2), (S3) and (S10) and publication (S9).
A. Beckham (HES), 24 November 2022.

Monument Types

• ICEHOUSE? (Post Medieval - 1540 AD? (at some time) to 1900 AD? (at some time))
• HOUSE (16th Century to 21st Century - 1598 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Finds - none

Protected Status

• Listed Building

Sources and further reading

Related records - none

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Walpole (Parish Summary)