Great Yarmouth; The Tolhouse

In the civil parish of Great Yarmouth.
In the historic county of Norfolk (Modern Authority of Norfolk, 1974 county of Norfolk).

C13 flint and rubble building with stone dressings. Possibly built as a merchant's fortified house circa 1150. It was the medieval Town Hall, Court of Justice and prison as well as the place for the receipt of port dues. In C14 it was privately owned and hired for town use. In 1362 Stephen de Stalham, who had bought it from the executors of William atte Mawe, bequeathed it to his wife. By 1552 it was Corperation property and continued in use until 1882 when the town hall was erected. John Howard visited the gaol in 1776. In 1808 the Corporation purchased land west of the prison so that it could be extended. In 1819 the gaol was capable of holding 30 prisoners and it was noted that the Corporation had purchased premises to extend the gaol so that prisoners could be properly classified. The gaol was enlarged by Francis Stone between 1818 and 1824. Alterations were made in 1851 and in 1858-9. In 1883, after the Corporation moved to the new town hall, the prison buildings west of the Tolhouse were demolished.

This site has been described as a;
Tower House.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Nothing visible remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is TG52490725

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 134074