The History of No. 12 St Paul’s street

Summary of Key Dates

C1280: Medieval Hall erected on site of No.12 St Paul’s Street.
The blind arch in the west wall of the building has been dated to the late 13th Century. It is purely decorative and a sign of prosperity. IT is likely that several houses erected on St Paul’s Street were built at the same time, before the town entered its first period of decline. The building would have consisted of an open hall to the west, cross-corridor and servants wing.

C1500-1520: Construction of stone screen passage in the hall, and conversion of the servants wing to a cross wing.
The upper floor of the cross wing may have formed the solar (a loft, upper garret or chamber) probably linked to economic prosperity in the town.

1596: House bought by Richard Frampton.
It is believed that Frampton may have been responsible for the conversion of the hall into two stories; a hall on the lower floor and a chamber above. The requirement for increased privacy was fuelled by the introduction of the Inglenook fireplace, facilitating the introduction of a room above, and the frowning fashion for increased privacy for the owner of the building. The upper section of the blind arch may have been obscured and was certainly damaged in the insertion of a large stone chimneypiece and breast. Frampton also extended the building by constructing the north parlour range, which added the parlour, kitchen, and two chambers above. The cellar below the parlour range is also probably contemporary with this phase of construction.

C1600: The property was owned by Gregorie Keisbe

1617: Tobias Norris Purchased N0. 12.
Norris set up a bell foundry within the burgage plot of the property. The front service room of No. 12 became a shop. Following his death, the probate inventory listed the rooms of the house: Hall, parlour, kitchen, buttery with five chambers above. His will (11th October 1626) clearly states his intentions for the property:

“My will and minde is that Marie my loving wife shall have and enjoye my house…..wherein I now dwell, situate and being in St.Paul’s p’sh in Stamford aforesaid-during her naturell life & after her decease I give and bequeathe the said house….unto my sonne Thomas Norris and to his heires….�

1626: Thomas takes charge of Bell Foundry, with Tobias II (his Brother) as foreman.

1663: Tobias III (son of Thomas) and his wife Susannah were responsible for the modernization of the façade.
Remodelling of the interior rooms may also have been attributed to this time. The staircase may have been moved from the service range to the more central position it is in today.

1689: Robert Smith, Master of Stamford Free School, takes up residence,
The building ceased to be used as a business property.

1700: Michael Baguely, a respected Surgeon, took up residence.

1719: The house was let to tenants, and may have been subdivided.
St Paul’s Street was in a period of decline.

1742: No,12 purchased by Edward Owen of Rhyall.
The prosperity of the area was believed to have improved by this time; the purchase of the property by a wealthy yeoman farmer was the first of a number of occupancies by the wealthy middle class.

1767: The house passed to the niece of Edward Owen, Mary Cummings.
Mary Cumming’s husband was a cabinetmaker in London.

1783: Description of the house in the Stamford Mercury.
The house is described as “a good dwelling house, three good parlours, kitchen, good cellaring, three genteel bedchambers and closets, three good servants rooms�. No record of a purchase is found at this date; perhaps Sarah Wingfield let the property to a tenant.

1791: House sold to William Broughton, Writing Master.

1798: Cotton Thompson in residence.

1810: Sarah Pleasance (spinster) purchased the property.

1817: Thomas Mills (druggist) purchased the property.
He did not run the business from the house, having a shop on the High Street. After his death, the building remained in his family.

1889: Henry Redmill, Cow Keeper, bought the house.
After his death the building remained in his family.

1952: Purchase of the property by the Royal Air Force Association (R.A.F.A)

2006: 14th December, opens as the Tobie Norris Pub.