The lost Town House, Cess, Martham
At TG445182 just off what is now Footpath No8 a ‘Town House’ or ‘Workhouse’ once stood to house paupers as shown on the above map. It was used until about 1777 when the ‘House of Industry’ (Workhouse) was opened at nearby Rollesby and Martham paupers were housed there.
In 1807 the house was listed as being occupied by Isaac Brown and Robert Linford in a list of land and property claims made by The Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Martham. The claim was made for the purposes of fulfilling the requirements of the 1807 “Act for Inclosing and Draining certain Lands, in the Parish of Martham.”
There is no sign of the property now but parts of the existing house called Willowcroft which is next to the plot are said to date from the time of the Town House. However, successive owners remain sceptical.