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Blakeney GuildhallNorfolk (English Heritage) |
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Blakeney Guildhall is all that remains of a substantial merchant's house which once formed part of the prosperous port of the 15th century. The entrance is now through this doorway on the north side, facing the sea and the quay, but may originally have been through the building above. |
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The undercroft has three windows in the east wall. |
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Inside is a well-built vault of brick. This material was typically used in merchants' houses of the period in Norfolk, due to the scarcity of local building stone. Other examples can be seen in Norwich, for example at Blackfriars. |
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The guildhall has had a varied history. It was the guildhall of Blakeney's fish merchants and may later have been used as an inn. By the 19th century it was a coal store and during the first World War it was used as a temporary mortuary. It is now in the care of English Heritage and is open to the public. |
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