NHER 1109 (Building record) - Former post medieval terraces, Painter Street

August 1972. Building Recording.
A group of terraces lining Painter Street were investigated by the RCHME prior to demolition.
At the time of the survey, Painter Street consisted entirely of small houses with single room plans, constructed in pairs or rows but all contiguous and of almost uniform height, style, and materials. They are largely made of flint rubble, with occasional examples of freestone block construction at the rear and use of stone quoins made of blocks robbed from the nearby priory (NHER 5748). They have brick dressings including a brick dental eaves course, and pantile roofs. The odd numbers lay on the north of the street, even numbers on the south.
Nos 19-21 were originally one 17th century house, subdivided in the 19th century. They have been much altered since, and internally there is little evidence of the original 17th century layout. The roof could not be examined in detail, but appeared to be similar to No 23.
No. 23 is a 17th century two storey house which was rearranged and extended in the late 18th and early 19th century, making it the largest on the street. The 17th century walls are constructed of flint blocks that have been knapped square and carefully laid with blocks of oolitic limestone, incorporating many 13th century stone fragments likely from the priory (NHER 5748). The first floor was derelict and could not be examined, but in the 19th cenutry it may have belonged to a house on the east which has since been demolished. However, several 17th century panelled doors with original latches were observed on the first floor.
Nos 2-12 (even) were constructed in 1797 as a terrace of six two storey houses in a series of reflecting pairs, while the remainder were apparently constructed in small groups in the first few decades of the 19th century. No. 18 had several 12th century freestone columns.
See (S1) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 18 August 2008.

Some medieval stone heads were retrieved from a demolished building here by council workmen
(information from Thetford Museum).
E. Rose (NAU) 20 August 1980.

North side only demolished. South side (even numbers) remains. In fact not all the houses were demolished; but it seems that the street numbering may have been changed.
E. Rose (NAU) 20 August 1980.

Late 1970's.
Nine of the cottages on Painter Street have been preserved. These appear to be the 1797 block (Nos 2-12) and Nos 14-18, although they have been renumbered and now appear as Nos 21-29 (east-west).
See (S2) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 18 August 2008.