NHER 41377 (Building record) - 14 White Hart Street, former 18th century theatre and 19th century shop

March 1971. Listed, Grade II.
Listing Description Excerpt:
"Used as a theatre and shop until 1833, then 2 houses and shop, converted to offices late 20th century. Mid 18th century. Flint and clunch with a painted gault brick façade added late 18th century. Slate roof. 2 storeys with a third in the attic. 3-bay façade with rusticated quoins. "
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
Amended by P. Beers (HES), 12 October 2020.

November 1923.
Two white marble Roman busts said to have once decorated the parapet of the theatre were donated to Thetford Museum. The busts adorning the Theatre were described by Leigh-Hunt in 1870 (S2), who noted that six of the 'excellently sculpted busts of Roman emperors and celebrities, which once graced the parapet on the front of the theatre' had remained in Thetford until recently but only two remained in the town in 1870 (the other four came into the possession of an Attleborough resident). Hunt (S2) adds afterwards that he discovered that the busts had been brought from Italy by the Earl of Arlington along with a marble staircase and tradition stated that they came into the hands of a private gentleman in Thetford when the Earl's effects were sold. Hunt (S2) continues to say that the busts decorated the theatre for several years, after which they were displayed in a house in Well street, and eventually came into the possession of Mr. W. Sharpe, a Thetford stone mason. Thetford Museum records (S3) state that the busts came into their possession in 1923, they were loaned to Norwich Castle Museum in 1952 for an exhibition on East Anglian Theatre, but sometime after this they found their way into King's House garden, returned to the museum in 1975.
At some time after 1870 the busts appear to have either been attached to plinths naming them as 'Tiberius' and 'Othone' or the inscriptions were added to the plinths (S4). It also possible that these are 19th century copies of the busts rather than the original 17th century objects (S4).
See (S2), (S3) and (S4) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 13 August 2008.

20 April 2005. Field Observation.
Ornate building, in the form of a town house of the 18th century with shop incorporated; some medieval limestone reused in walls. Said to have been a theatre in the early 19th century.
See (S5) in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 21 April 2005.

June 2005. Field Observation.
Further examination suggests that the theatre was to the rear and was demolished in 1843. The domed room in the present house is a later insertion for unknown purposes.
See (S6) in file.
E. Rose (NLA) 10 June 2005.

July 2006.
The building is to be further altered in order to convert it to a children's play school.
See (S7) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 13 August 2008.

Crosby (S8) notes that the theatre was opened in a house in White Hart Street in the early 19th century and an adjacent cottage was taken over by the manager of a company of Comedians to be used as a dressing room for the actors. The theatre was reputedly most active during February or March, when the Lent Assizes were held, and it was forced to close when the Assizes were removed to Norwich.
See (S8) for further details.
H. Hamilton (NLA), 13 August 2008.

See notes in file (S9) on two Roman heads brought to England in the 17th century, late displayed at the theatre and now in Thetford Museum, which have in the past been wrongly claimed as genuine Roman finds from the area.
E. Rose (NLA), 30 May 2007