The earliest part of the Ancient House Museum was constructed around 1490 and consisted of a hall with a partition wall which separates off a southern area which has a full-width frieze window. This arrangement strongly suggests that the southern part of the building was used as a shop. A rear wing was added to the building, probably in the 16th century, and a new rear staircase was added in the 17th century. In the late 19th century further alterations included the replacement of the shop window with a bay window and the division of the building into two separate units. The building was purchased by Prince Frederick Duleep Singh and given to the Corporation of Thetford in 1921 to be used as a museum. The museum opened in 1924 following some renovation work, and the building remains in use as a museum today. Extensive renovation work was carried out between 2002 and 2006 and several building surveys were conducted while this work took place. Today Thetford Ancient House Museum is open to the public and is part of Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service.
--- | Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TL 88 SE 99. |
--- | Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card. |
--- | Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, W. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 718-719. |
--- | Monograph: Pevsner, N. 1962. North-West and South Norfolk. The Buildings of England. 1st Edition. p 347; Pl 51a. |
--- | Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Thetford. |
--- | Secondary File: Secondary File. |
--- | Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service. |
<S1> | Publication: Clarke, W.G.. [unknown]. |
<S2> | Designation: English Heritage. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1297789. |
<S3> | Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF495. |
<S4> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1977. Ancient information. 8 December. |
<S5> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1985. Museum marks link with Indian princes. 2 January. |
<S6> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Smith, R. 2001. The Ancient House, White Hart Street, Thetford, Norfolk. Robert Smith. |
<S7> | Unpublished Report: Smith, R. 2002. The Cellars beneath Number 19 White Hart Street and the Ancient House Museum. |
<S8> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Kirkham, A. 2002. Polychrome survey of the White Hart Street frontage, The Ancient House Museum, Thetford. Andrea Kirkham. |
<S9> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Kirkham, A. 2002. Ancient House Museum, Thetford, Norfolk. Polychrome Survey of the White Hart Street Frontage: Additional Information. Andrea Kirkham. |
<S10> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Smith, R. 2005. The Ancient House Museum, Thetford - Addendum. Robert Smith. |
<S12> | Unpublished Contractor Report: Smith, R. 2006. The Ancient House Museum, Thetford. Robert Smith. |
<S13> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2002. Opening up the Ancient House. 25 January. |
<S14> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2002. Museum wants to banish black look. 20 September. |
<S15> | Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2003. £949,000 grant is vote of confidence. 30 September. |
<S16> | Unpublished Document: Heywood, S. Historic building report for the Ancient House Museum, 21, White Hart Street, Thetford, Norfolk.. Building Report. |
<S17> | Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2002. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk, 2001. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLIV Pt I pp 162-177. p 176. |
<S18> | Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Scheduling Notification. Notification. DNF495. |