NHER 26075 (Building record) - Deanery, Priors Hall, The Close

February 1954. Listed, Grade I.
Former Deanery, originally the Prior's Lodging, now subdivided.
13th century with 16th, 17th century and later remodelling and additions. Flint and brick rubble with stone and some brick dressings. Pantile roof. South façade in three parts:
Left part: two storeys and attic.
Centre part: Hipped gable-fronted projecting wing has chequered work with brick dressings.
Right part: Hipped gable-front extension to cross wing with stepped gable left.
Red brick façade with rubble side walls.
Rear elevation has two two-light late 13th century windows on ground floor and four first floor sashes.
Mid 16th century Rennaissance carved overmantel in the library.
See file for further details.
Information from (S1).

May-July 1994. Architectural Survey.
Archaeological survey of the west face of the Deanery garden wall recorded early and later medieval masonry, and post dissolution reconstruction and adaptation.
See report (S2) for details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2022.184).
D. Gurney (NLA), 12 February 2001. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 5 December 2022.

For description of the painted beams here see (S4).

This building began life as the Priors Hall in 1284; it became the Deanery and fittings are marked with arms etc dating to 1529 to 1628. Suckling added a passage to the Dark Entry. In 1660 to 4 the hall was divided in two and gables added. Stairs and an orangery came in 1765 to 90.
In 1829 the new road to the south transept removed Suckling's passage, the house was turned round and the northeast wing removed; the prior's hall became a kitchen and scullery but was restored to a sitting room in 1927 and to a meeting room in 1950. There is a large wine cellar. (S5).
E. Rose (NLA), 26 January 2001.