NHER 5910 (Building record) - 3-4 Market Place and site of St John the Baptist's leper hospital

(S1) mentions a medieval crypt and a pillar passing through the house. (S2) also noted the former, as does the Listing Grade II 1981 (S3), stating it is encased in an 18th century house. A. Davison states there is a photo taken 1905 in Garsett House's annotated copy of (S4).
These remains are usually said to be St Lawrence's church but A. Davison (S5) states that documentary evidence shows conclusively that this stood to the south of the town - in Redcastle? - and that this may be the Leper Hospital of St John the Baptist, see NHER 5890 and NHER 6354.
E. Rose (NAU) 7 April 1986.

(S5) conclusively states that this is the site of the leper hospital of St John the Baptist. This hospital was founded for male lepers under a master at some time in the 12th century. As the town grew, it was suppressed and amalgamated with St Mary Magdalen (NHER 5890). In 1229 the Leper Hospital of St John of Thetford was granted a licence to beg for alms and in 1232 the master was granted a charter for an annual Fair at the hospital on the vigil and feast of the Decollation of St John The Baptist. The hospital was suppressed at some time before 1272. According to Blomefield the hospital stood at the corner of Earl's or Alice's Lane. The crypt originally identified as that of St Lawrence must have been close to this site, but has recently been shown to be a 14th century cellar.
Information from (S5), (S6) and (S7).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 7 August 2008.

5 December 1990. Visit by E. Rose (NAU) after roof burnt in fire.
Roof timbers are not of a great age although some are reused. The 18th century façade covers three or four former properties, none however are obviously pre 18th century. The architect states that the pillar mentioned by Pevsner is in the crypt only. The crypt has two chambers, one with vault removed and approached by tunnel. No sign of medieval work in house.
See press cutting (S8) in file.
E. Rose (NAU),12 December 1990.

Listing 1993 Grade II* dates the building to the 16th century on the basis of one 16th century tiebeam in the roof and a reeded bressumer to rear fireplace; otherwise the building is 18th century. Crypt in a barrel vaulted passage leading to a sexpartite vault with plain chamfered brick ribs without bosses, springing from moulded corbels. Archway leads to former quadripartite vault of which ribs removed. A similar third chamber now reduced to coal cellar. No mention of the pillar - could Pevsner have possibly made a confusion with the Central Hotel opposite with its reset colonette? (NHER 18561).
E. Rose (NLA), 29 March 1994.

Appropriate section from reference (S9) in file.

Roof and upper parts again damaged by fire in December 1998.
E. Rose (NLA), 11 January 1999.