NW CA cover:Layout 1 - North Norfolk District Council

North Walsham Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management PlanIn general, the earlier shop fronts which occupy only a part of the whole frontage marry betterwith the upper floors. More modern shop fronts demonstrate a tendency to try and fill thewhole of the ground floor, such as the bright blue front of a building society. The result is adisjointed facade, where there is no pleasing relationship between the ground and upperfloors.Some shops imitate the design of late Victorian shop fronts, but the proportions of detailssuch as consoles and pilasters tend to be crude. Other shops make little concession totraditional design, such as the severe rectilinear framing of the windows and doors at “KeysEstate Agents”. A few have what might be described as purely functional fronts, eg. TheJolly Swagman. These appear particularly out of character with the area, surmounted bylarge and brightly coloured fascia boards.Market Place (south side)On the south side, starting at the east end, the first houses are two storeys with simple shopfronts. The projecting rectangular bays of the blue-painted charity shop at No. 2 have aparticularly appealing vernacular character. The adjacent three storey house has a vegetableshop with an equally pleasing, although battered front. During the day, there is a picturesquedisplay of produce occupying most of an adjoining alley. After this, the largely Victorianfaçade of the former Woolworths provides a strong contrast. This former 17th century innretains its tall brick chimneys, but little else. Refronted and with a new shop front, the largeground floor windows lack glazing bars, and are large gaping spaces in the façade. The newrecessed entrance at the west end is hidden in the shadows. Next to this is a late Victorianred brick and stone façade. This has an excellent late Victorian or Edwardian shop front,with fine carved woodwork over the door.Figure 10 : Waterloo House, Market Place.There follows a row of five shops. While the upper floors of red and white brick are attractive,the shops have indifferent or poor facades and large and highly coloured fascia boards.Coral bookmakers once had a fine ground floor to match its first floor display window, butthe new ground floor windows are heavy and crudely detailed. Only the stone front of BarclaysBank in the centre of the street raises the standard, relating well to the stone windowsurrounds on the floors above. Even here the large ground floor windows lack detail,appearing stark and intrusive. Boots pharmacy next door is of more interest, with the gildedsign “R.M. Ling” in the light above the door. Regrettably, the next shop once again has anuninspired and recent front. A large first floor window above the shop front has lost all itsglazing bars, further reducing its attractiveness.North Norfolk District Council21