NHER 63491 (Building record) - Warehouse, south side of King's Staithe Lane

Previously recorded under NHER 5535 (Clifton House).

1951. Listed Grade II.
Warehouse serving Clifton House (NHER 5535). Mid 16th century, extended north in the early 17th century to street line, greatly altered since and converted to flat and shop in the mid 1980s. Red brick and re-used ashlar. Plaintile and pantile roofs. North side is probably an early 17th century extension. Two storeys with dormer attic. Wide entrance with sliding door just off centre leads to rear and provides access to courtyard. East of the door is a set-off to the first floor and re-used quoins at the junction with Clifton House to the extreme east. Facade is punctuated with two and three-light diamond mullioned windows and assorted casements, all of 1980s, but probably accurate replicas. Gabled roof with six sloping dormers. South side in two distinct builds. Entrance passage emerges via double timber doors. Two storeys and dormer attic. Assorted late 20th century casements and two pedestrian doors now opening into shop and domestic units. Disposition of fenestration is erratic but existence of ashlar quoins many indicate authentic mid 16th century locations and size. Much re-used ashlar in elevation. Gabled roof with two sloping dormers. Left of the passage doors the elevation projects under a shallower pitched roof and reduces to one storey and dormer attic. Flight of late 20th century steps leads to small terrace serving two 20th century French windows and a door. Three sloping dormers in roof. Interior not inspected but known to retain a heavy spine wall which is probably the north wall of the original warehouse before extension to the street. Later, 18th century, cellars also reported.
Information from updated list entry (S1).
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 4 July 2019.

1961. Building survey for SPAB.
A double range of 16th century warehouses extends from the west wall of Clifton House (NHER 5535) along the south side of King's Staithe Lane, and at right angles to this at the west end a warehouse originally fronted onto the river, but although the west wall of this warehouse still exists it is enclosed within a modern warehouse and separated from the river by the embankment.
See (S2) for further information.
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 4 July 2019.

December 1984. Building survey.
The list entry dating of 17th century is correct as far as the north façade is concerned, though this could equally be ascribed a late 16th century date. However, the eastern section of the south wall is very different and was clearly constructed at a date when large quantities of medieval stonework were available, presumably at or shortly after the Dissolution. The massive spine wall does seem like an external wall. A suggested sequence is that the southern pile was constructed at the same time as Clifton House in the 16th century, when stone from monastic buildings was available. The present spine wall was its north wall. At a later date, possibly in the early 17th century, the north pile was added in brick, and the western end of the south pile extended, or demolished and rebuilt. The west courtyard range is also of this date. The offset makes the upper floor look like a later addition, but there is no evidence for this in the brickwork. The northeast quoins however do stop at the offset. It is possible therefore that the upper storey was a change of plan during construction. The cellars appear to be a later insertion, probably 18th century. It is not clear when the cross-passage was cut through the spine wall but it could be as early as the construction of the north pile.
See (S3) for further details.
E. Rose (NAU), 8 December 1984.

February 1985. Site visit.
Visit to see interior of western range of warehouses. The northernmost section was a two-storeyed brick building very similar to the existing King's Staithe Lane range but the upper floor has long vanished, the walling has been patched and altered and an iron roof substituted. The southern part is still roofed but much more altered. There is then a gap blocked by a wall which now forms the east wall of the modern warehouses but is clearly older and includes much reused medieval stonework.
See (S4) for further information.
E. Rose, 1 March 1985.

1988. Collapse of timber-framed building above Strangler's Alley.
This part of the structure collapsed during renovation work but was quickly reconstructed in replica using the original materials.
See (S4)
E. Rose (NAU), 17 October 1988.