NHER 839 (Building record) - King of Hearts, Odd Nos 11-15 Fye Bridge Street

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Summary

The King of Hearts was originally a house, built during the early 16th century. The buildings have since been altered, but an extensive restoration in 1992 has turned them into an arts centre. The buildings are of flint and brick, with rendered timber-framed first floors and weather-boarded second floor. Inside there is a fine ground floor timber ceiling with lozenge patterns and major axial and cross timbers, as well as heavily moulded and decorated with brattishing. The building originally only had two floors, but was heightened in the 19th century, the new new second floor constructed from the 16th century first floor ceiling and diminished principal roof.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet	TG20NW
Civil Parish	NORWICH, NORWICH, NORFOLK

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Full Description

King of Hearts, Odd Nos 11 to 15 Fye Bridge Street.
Former house, now shops 16th century onwards. Rendered. Brick north gable with stone quoins. Rear range is flint ground floor, rendered timber-frame first floor and weather boarded 2nd floor. Pantile roofs. L-shape plan. Street façade: three storeys. Rear range: mostly concealed by 19th century extensions. Three storeys. Interior: fine ground floor timber ceiling with lozenge patterns and major axial and cross timbers, heavily moulded and decorated with brattishing. The 19th century heightening is constructed from the 16th century first floor ceiling and diminished principal roof.
See (S1) and (S2).

1970s or 1980s. Norwich Survey.
See (S3).
T. E. Miller (NLA), 24 March 2004.

May-July 1989. Watching brief undertaken by NAU staff. Underpinning work.
Floor level recorded.
Detailed description and plans in file, [1] which dates earliest phases to 15th rather than 16th century.
See file for further details.
Compiled by E. Rose (NLA),18 July 1997.

Press cuttings (S4) and (S5) in file.
T. Sunley (NLA) 8 November 2007.

Associated Sources (12)

--- SNF58263 Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 282.
--- SNF73161 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. Aude, Queen of Hearts. 23 January.
--- SNF73699 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2010. Sadness as King of Hearts loses its fight for survival. 6 April.
--- SNF87213 Record Card: NCM Staff. 1973-1989. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card - Norwich.
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
--- SNF8807 Slide: Various. Slide.
--- SNF74738 Unpublished Document: Heywood, S. 1997. Descriptions of historic buildings in Norwich. Building Report. 11. The King of Hearts.
<S1> SNF48662 Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1025094.
<S2> SNF8204 Thesis: Smith, R. 1990. An Architectural History of Norwich Buildings, c. 1200 - 1700. Unpublished Thesis. pp 398-399.
<S3> SNF51708 Unpublished Document: Carter, A.. 1987. Building Survey.
<S4> SNF68983 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1992. How they built on tradition. 5 December.
<S5> SNF68984 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2000. [Article and a letter to the editor on the work undertaken to create the King of Hearts Gallery].

Site and Feature Types and Periods (3)

Object Types (1)

ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Related NHER Records (0)

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Record last edited

Feb 11 2026 11:47AM