Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Location

Full description

Nos 63 and 64 Bailey Street.
These two buildings form the northern end of a row of three dwellings situated to the east of Bailey Street and backing onto the River Nar.
No 64 is situated in the centre and is a two-storey building with plastered external walls covering a timber-frame and one small section of flint wall. The northern end of the building is recessed and includes a flint wall with limestone ashlar dressings, shaped plinth, and a small rectangular window with chamfered reveal. This flint wall is believed to be of medieval date whilst the remainder of the timber-framed building likely dates to the 16th or 17th century. The northen (medieval) end includes a large fireplace with jambs constructed of limestone blocks and traces of an in-filled oven or similar feature. To the east of fireplace there may have once been a winding stair. Beyond this is also the remains of an eastern medieval wall with toothed stone quoins, now completely enclosed in a modern rear extension. This was initially interpreted as the remains of a possible projecting tower (see S1) but is now believed to simply be the edge of the eastern wall (see S3 and S1).
No 63 adjoins the flint wall of No 64. It is a two-storey building of two bays constructed of flint with brick dressings and a pantile roof. At it's northern end, it is attached to a building which may have been a granary as it includes a large, round-headed opening at ground floor level, a hatchway formed from a blocked door, and a loading door on the upper floor. The entirety of the rear wall has now been covered by a modern extension. The main building likely dates to the late 18th or early 19th century and the possible granary is likely a later addition.
No 65 is not included in this record, but it was likely also a later addition.
The medieval or Jacobean building which forms the core of No. 64 was certainly a high-status building. Interpretations include that it may have been a pilgrims' hostel benefitting from the pilgrimmage routes to Walsingham and from river traffic, it may have been a fish house connected with the Earls Pond located to the east, and may have been occupied by an official employed by the estate. Work to lower the floor in the southernmost room of No. 64 has yielded a large assembly of medieval pottery, including 72 sherds of 11th to 14th century wares and 121 sherds of 13th to 15th century glazed Grimston ware. Whilst finds from the rear of the building (see NHER 50565) have also included large quantities of medeival Grimston ware and extremely large quantities of 16th to 18th century glazed red earthenware.
Information compiled from HER Notes (S1), finds descriptions, and later reports as outlined below.
H. Hamilton (HES), 21 November 2022.

January 1985. Field observation.
Inspection of both exterior and interior of Nos. 63 and 64 Bailey Street. At the time of visiting, the interior of No. 63 had been stripped and the upper floors removed, revealing structural features.
Massive medieval wall of flint and stone with shaped plinth forms the former north wall of a medieval building with a tower at the corner; possible pilgrims hostel or similar building.
Timber-framed building apparently of 17th? century date replaced rest of house (no 64). Massive stack possibly of either period.
No 63 added to north in the 19th century.
See detailed building report and later notes in HER Notes (S1) and photographs (S2).
E. Rose (NAU) 24 January 1985.

April 1987. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description:
"House. Late Medieval with extensive C18 and C19 additions not of special interest. Flint with brick headers to main fabric. Limestone ashlar dressings. Pantile roof. Returned gable-end wall with former exterior face to north now obscured by later structures to both sides. Western return forms part of street facade. Plinth with chamfered ashlar coping. Small rectangular window with chamfered reveal.
Interior: Entire length of gable-end and an eastern return (identical to the western one) visible from interior. Building to south probably replaces a Medieval timber-framed structure."
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S3) for the current listing details.
H. Hamilton (HES), 8 November 2022.

27 March 1987. Field Observation.
Examination of the exterior of the building.
The west (street) frontage has been stripped and exposed. The return of the flint and masonry gable wall is now visible here, and the stone slit window has been reopened. This return has stone quoins to each corner and does havea south wall which appears to be contemporary. So the Listing (S3) appears to be correct in suggesting the tower is really only the end of the east return. The present timber-framed building is therefore set off-centre to the older north wall, the latter projecting more to the east than the west, as well as being narrower than its presumed predecessor.
Information from HER Notes (S1).
E. Rose (NLA), 31 March 1987.

2000.
Published research by R. Liddiard (S4) suggests that the building may have been a fish house connected with the Earl's Pond which lay to the east.

Before 8 June 2007. Casual Observation.
A layer of chalk-flecked soil containing a large assemblage of pottery was encountered whilst undertaking works to lower the floor level of the southernmost room of 64 Bailey Street. The layer of soil was found to extend across the entire room and was situated below the walls and the stack. The vast majority of the assemblage was dated to the medieval period and it is likely that some or all of the post-medeival material derives from unrecorded intrusions.

The pottery assemblage was identified as:
72 sherds 11th to 14th century pottery, including two early medieval jar rims, two flanged bowl rims, two jar or bowl tims and two sagging bases.
1 sherd of probable 13th to 14th century Ely Ware.
126 sherds Grimston ware, including 5 12th-13th century unglazed and the remainder 13th to 15th century gazed. The glazed ware included several jug rims, jars, and a variety of handle types. Some of the smaller pieces may date to the 16th century.
11 sherds late-15th to 16th century pottery including 2 pieces of Raeren/aachen stoneware and 9 of Late Medieval Transitional.
16 sherds late-16th to 18th century Glazed Red Earthenware pottery including a storage jar, several rims, and a rod handle and body sherds of a Dutch-style cauldron.
1 fragment of medieval window glass with red paint on one face.
16 fragments of 16th-18th century window glass.
1 Nuremberg jetton likely dating to the 1570's.

A small number of additional finds were recovered from a deeper slit trench:
13 sherds of unglazed medieval pottery and one sherd of glazed Grimston pottery.
A small undated fragment of fired clay with one surviving flat face.

For finds from garden see NHER 50565.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 June 2007. Amended H. Hamilton (HES), 8 November 2022.

11 June 2007. Field observation.
Further examination of the interior following works to lower the ground floor indicates, as suggested by the Listing (S3), that the corner tower is in fact the end and return of the medieval fire-gable. It would appear the late-17th century timber frame has replaced an earlier timber frame.
Additional items of worked stone have been found in the garden, including Norman attache colonettes and 14th-century tracing, but it is possible some of this has been imported by previous owners in recent years.
See further unpublished notes on this visit in HER Notes (S1).
E. Rose (NLA), 11 June 2007.

July 2008.
Five photographs (S5) were taken of reinstated medieval elements of the house including the fireplace, a flint and stone wall, and a surviving distorted tie beam. The tie beam has one surviving queen post with the mortise for the other and may date to the 16th century.
Information from S. Heywood and (S5).
H. Hamilton (NLA), 17 July 2008.

December 2011. Observation.
Section of timber frame revealed to the south west of the original single cell building. It was originally an external wall now enclosed by a small extension. One principal post with mid rails jointed to it. Sole plate intact. Wattle and daub infill. Former doorway with chamfered reveal and lintel of greater than normal width. Only the left hand jamb and lintel revealed; therefore the full extent is not known but it probably terminates at the corner post (see photos). Much more of the timber frame remains hidden beneath plaster. Although the timber frame is on a slightly different alignment than the plinth which supports it, it is probably contemporary with masonry gable-end.
The building is clearly of high status with a returned stack gable-end of knapped flint with brick headers and Barnack stone ashlar quoins, plinth and window reveal. It is just possible that it is medieval but certainly 16th-century and an example of the recognised type of small, single cell, high status buildings. In this case the occupant may have been an official employed by the estate. It is worthy of remark that the pair of lodgings (NHER 5268) is within a stone's throw of this house and these tiny houses had a similar status in the running of the Jacobean estate.
See Photographs (S6).
S. Heywood (HES), 15 December 2011.

Monument Types

• FINDSPOT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• FISH HOUSE? (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
• HOSPITAL? (Medieval to 16th Century - 1400 AD to 1539 AD)
• HOUSE (Medieval to 21st Century - 1400 AD to 2008 AD)
• FINDSPOT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• GRANARY? (18th Century to 19th Century - 1701 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

• ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Undated)
• WORKED OBJECT (Unknown date)
• POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1399 AD)
• POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• WINDOW (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
• POT (Medieval - 1100 AD to 1299 AD)
• POT (Medieval - 1200 AD to 1399 AD)
• POT (Medieval to 16th Century - 1200 AD to 1599 AD)
• POT (Medieval to 16th Century - 1450 AD to 1599 AD)
• POT (Medieval to 16th Century - 1450 AD to 1599 AD)
• WINDOW (16th Century to 18th Century - 1501 AD to 1799 AD)
• JETTON (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
• POT (16th Century to 18th Century - 1540 AD to 1799 AD)

Protected Status

• Listed Building

Sources and further reading

Related records

Find out more...

• Parish Summary: Castle Acre (Parish Summary)