NHER 1377 (Monument record) - Post medieval malt house

Malthouse.
Around 1770. Malthouse built from material of Roman fort and destroyed early in 19th century.
Information from Norwich Castle Museum record card (S1).
Also recorded on Ordnance Survey record card (S2).
E. Rose (NLA). Amended by H. Henderson (HES), 02 September 2026.

It was 95m (104 yards) long and 9.3m (10 1/4 yards) wide, the largest in Britain, for Brancaster had the largest malting trade in the country. The building was demolished in the early 19th century and some of the material was apparently taken to build Thorpeland lodge.
Described by Woodward in 1829 (S6) as double-roofed with a shaped gable. Woodward suggests a construction date of 1747.
Information from HER record card (S3).
E. Rose (NLA). Amended by H. Henderson (HES), 02 September 2026

See the bibliography for NHER 1001 for references to recent publications which indicate that 1747 is a far more probable date for the demolition of the fort walls than 1770, which was assumed by R. R. Clarke (NCM) from Blomefield's date of publication.
E. Rose (NLA), 6 January 2004. Amended by H. Henderson (HES), 02 September 2026 [1].

September 2026. HER Enhancement.
In his “Complete English Traveller”, published in 1771, Spencer makes particular note of Brancaster’s malthouse which he describes as “the greatest malt-house in England” (S4), indicating that the building had been completed by this time.
In his description of Brancaster Roman Fort (NHER 1001), Bloomfield notes that “Many parts of its walls were carried away, and used on the foundation of the great malthouse (some years past) in the town…” (S5). As Bloomefield’s Norfolk was first published in 1775, this statement implies that the malthouse was constructed “some years” prior to this date.
These two sources have led to the consensus that the malthouse was likely constructed about 1770, as quoted in general discussions of Brancaster Roman fort (S7)
It was not possible to identify the sources noted by E. Rose in 2004 (see above) which were previously referenced as indicating an earlier date for the destruction of the walls of Brancaster Roman Fort.
H. Hamilton and H. Henderson (HES), 09 September 2026.