NHER 54174 (Monument record) - Site of timber-framed building, Grove Farmhouse, North Green Road

July 2010. Building Survey.
The building recording revealed that the structure contained an almost complete timber frame for a 16th century open hall. Following a fire in the 1950's the building was reduced in size but retains some re-erected timbers and a fragment of the medieval frame indicating an open hall layout with inserted floor. The western bays were built c. 1640 by comparison with dated frames with similar details. The walls are close studding with ovolo-moulded rails forming a cornice. A pair of glazed , three-light, ovolo-moulded, mullion windows flanking a large central opening which had a large mullion-and-transom window in a separate projecting frame. Evidence of a similar window can be seen on the west elevation where the low level of the sill and the absence of the special joint indicates that there may have been a projecting bay window. Three intact mullion windows were found and other others are still covered by the modern lining. On the western side of the large stack is a c. 1640 hearth with ovolo-moulded three centred brick arch with some original plaster adhering. The stack has a winding newel stair to the south side in the traditional style that leads from the front door lobby conforming to the classic post-medieval plan type. It can be assumed that there are other 17th century hearths hidden behind the plaster on both sides of the stack. The eastern bay was truncated and rebuilt in brick following the fire. The floor is an insertion into the former open hall as revealed in the surviving timbers on the north side. A rail is notched into the side of the original northwest post and is supported by further surviving medieval posts. The inserted floor is considerably lower than the 17th century floor and was probably inserted several years before the extension that became the parlour, probably in the second half of the 16th century. The medieval corner post had a large jowl which has been cut back. It supported the end tie beam and the dovetail trench which held it survives and a thick brace also survives.
See report (S1) and summary (S2).
S. Howard (NLA), 9 July 2010.

October 2010. Building Survey.
Historic Building Recording.
Report with drawings and some further information by Heather Wallis and Robert Smith.
See report (S2) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S3).
An archive associated with this work has now been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2012.226).
S. Heywood (HES), 11 November 2013. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 June 2021.