Historic Martham house to be demolished

ONE of the last splendid examples of 19th-century Broadland brickwork is to be demolished so 11 houses can be built on the site.Elmside House in Martham, near Yarmouth, is one of the few remaining homes made from red Martham brick.

ONE of the last splendid examples of 19th-century Broadland brickwork is to be demolished so 11 houses can be built on the site.

Elmside House in Martham, near Yarmouth, is one of the few remaining homes made from red Martham brick. During the 19th-century, the bricks, known as Norfolk red, were used to build dozens of homes in Martham.

They were also transported from a bricksworks in the village by wherry to Yarmouth to be extensively used in construction.

Despite an impassioned campaign to save the house, Norwich-based developer Gladedale (Anglia) has been given the green light to demolish the building and build 11 cottage-style homes.

The decision by a government planning inspector means that one of the last examples of Martham brick, built by yeoman farmer William Johnson, will no longer be appreciated by visitors to the Broadland village.

Last year, local historian Ann Meakin failed in a bid to get the house in White Street, which is in a conservation zone, classed as listed building in an attempt to stop it being ripped down.

Mrs Meakin said: “It is a real shame that a nice example of a yeomen house made from individual Martham brick will no longer be enjoyed.”