NHER 65597 (Building record) - Walpole House, Yarmouth Road

Walpole House, 16 Yarmouth Road. Part of a complex of listed buildings that were all previously recorded under NHER 4656 (Town House). The other elements are now also recorded separately, as NHERs 65594-65596 and 65598-65599.

February 1952. Listed, Grade II*.
Listing Description excerpt:
"House. 17th century in origin, south parts remodelled early 18th century. Early 19th-century additions and alterations. Red and burnt brick, colourwashed to north. Slate roof. North block largely early 19th century. Two storeys, reduced towards road owing to slope of ground. Quoins at corners...Square door to right...Hipped roof. South block early 18th century, defined by rebuilt shaped gables...Continuous cast iron balcony at first floor. Moulded brick cornice below undulating parapet.
Interior: Fine range of rooms to south of early 18th century. Ground floor west room has fielded panelling, marble chimney piece with carving in frieze and mirror within shouldered architrave. Above mirror is voluted broken pediment. Interior doors with pedimented architraves with carved oak-leaf pulvinated friezes. Plastered ceiling of acanthus foliage with oval and cornice. Staircase hall with large Venetian windows..Staircase has turned balusters, column newels, inlaid hand-rail and carved tread ends. Stairs lead directly to first floor drawing room through doorcase with broken pediment. Drawing room with fielded panelling, marble chimney piece."
Information from (S1).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
P. Watkins (HES), 21 May 2022.

A mid-18th-century garden house in the grounds of Walpole House was also listed Grade II* in 1952. This is now recorded as NHER 65598.
P. Watkins (HES), 23 May 2022.

July 1975. Field Observation.
Seen by E. Rose (NAU).
Town House Hotel/Walpole House/cottages. Block of listed buildings. All 18th century. Only shells remains...Semi-derelict.
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 19 July 1975. Information from record card (S2).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 May 2022.

December 1988. Building Survey.
Examined again by E. Rose (NLA).
Walpole House is the subject of a 1979 report by A. H. Grogan for the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (copy in file), which dates it to circa 1730 as a pavilion added to the Manor House [NHER 65596]. The report should be consulted, together with the Listing (Grade II*) though the latter seems to confuse the two buildings to some degree; they describe the interior furnishings. Grogan
also mentions the theory that Walpole House was designed by Thomas Ripley for Lord Walpole of Wolterton. The building was not seen in 1988, except for the remains of three small bell gables which protrude above the roof of the Manor House, facing north - one has an external stack, the central has lost its top, and the eastern is cut in half (possibly an original feature). These gables are only mentioned in passing in the 1979 report.
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA). Information from file notes (S3).
P. Watkins (HES), 23 May 2022.