IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Bridge Street, THETFORD, IP24 3AE

This early 19th century house at number 17 Bridge Street, is now used as a restaurant. Built in whole flints and pebbles with brick front and rear walls. The shop front is 20th century. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1207470 Once the ancient capital of East Anglia, Thetford is a market town established at a crossing of the River Little Ouse. A major centre of Boudica’s Iceni tribe with an Iron Age fort. Later came a Norman castle and an important priory. Thetford is the birthplace of 18th century radical Thomas Paine, whose thinking encouraged American independence and the abolition of slavery. After World War II, Thetford became an "overspill town", taking people from London.

This is now a Travelodge. Image

The blue narrowboat on the right is actually a floating restaurant.

This is a very sad sight. This old coaching inn is a landmark on what was once the main approach into Thetford from the south, just before the bridge over the Little Ouse River. It has a claim to fame: the very first scene of the first episode of Dad's Army was filmed here and the hotel was regularly used by the cast when filming in the area (all of the outdoor scenes in the programme were filmed in the Thetford area). Although it continued until recently to be a busy hotel and restaurant, with a popular public bar, the current owners want to redevelop the site for housing. This is bitterly opposed by the Thetford Society who would prefer to see the building continue as a hotel; it is not listed, but is in a conservation area. However, the building is in poor condition and its current abandoned state means it will only deteriorate further.

Sunlight, shadows and a roll-call of traditional Norfolk building materials.

The Anchor Hotel featured in the very first episode of Dad's Army and was used by the cast when filming in the area. See Image for a fuller description.

Losinga, number 22 Bridge Street is an early 19th century house in flint with brick dressings. The red brick front was added in the mid 19th century and one bay was added in the late 19th century. The house is now part of Thetford Grammar School. Listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1207476 Thetford Grammar School is an independent co-educational school which might date back to the 7th century. Part of the school is built on the site of a thirteenth-century Dominican Friary. Once the ancient capital of East Anglia, Thetford is a market town established at a crossing of the River Little Ouse. A major centre of Boudica’s Iceni tribe with an Iron Age fort. Later came a Norman castle and an important priory. Thetford is the birthplace of 18th century radical Thomas Paine, whose thinking encouraged American independence and the abolition of slavery. After World War II, Thetford became an "overspill town", taking people from London.

Captain Mainwaring's statue surveys the site of the Anchor Hotel which was finally demolished at the end of 2012 after standing derelict for several years. See Image and Image

Thetford Travelodge is located on an attractive site beside the Little Ouse River.

An information board giving details of Thetford and of Town Bridge. The bridge carries Bridge Street over the River Little Ouse. The bridge in detail is seen at Image The bridge is listed, grade II, with details at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1195954 Once the ancient capital of East Anglia, Thetford is a market town established at a crossing of the River Little Ouse. A major centre of Boudica’s Iceni tribe with an Iron Age fort. Later came a Norman castle and an important priory. Thetford is the birthplace of 18th century radical Thomas Paine, whose thinking encouraged American independence and the abolition of slavery. After World War II, Thetford became an "overspill town", taking people from London.