Nationally from the seventeenth century inns were more likely to be built or re-faced in the classical style, and until the later eighteenth century they would often be the largest public place in a small town. This was found to be true at Norfolk, where examples include the Swan Hotel at Harleston (1725-30), a three-storey construction with an early Georgian frontage and a panelled assembly room; and the Black Boys inn at Aylsham market-place. This can be seen in the photograph below. Its balcony which faces out towards the market place suggesting that it also functioned as a place as a place for public addresses.




A Georgian inn in the market place at Aylsham.

Other places of recreation in small towns were being up-dated or newly constructed in the Georgian form. For example there was an assembly room in East Dereham of 1756 which was described as a, commodius building (Gardiner, 1850, p138), and another at Swaffham. Swaffham, as one of the larger market towns, had a suitably impressive range of facilities, such as a Georgian assembly room, a theatre, billiards, bowling green, race course, and a classical market place.

The Fisher Theatre in Thetford.

In the eighteenth century, in contrast, many provincial civic buildings were still being constructed in the older baroque style. It was only later that classicism was more widely accepted for civic buildings. Then, perhaps because of this delay its use in these buildings actually continued beyond the usual span for the fashion.

Shop forms changed little in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and only their detailing reflected passing fashions. Below we can see how a typical shop front could be updated using simple Georgian components such as a fanlight above the door. Shop windows were glazed with small panes of glass because at this time glass size was blown, therefore restricting its size.



Georgian shop front at Reepham.

More unusual public buildings which were built in the new style were the Lacons Maltings in Diss, demonstrating that even an an industrial construction could be endowed with Georgian proportions; and the 1630 Customs House at Cley, which was re-faced in 1729.



Georgian shop front at Reepham.

Customs House at Cley on the North Norfolk coast.The Customs House faces one of the main roads in Cley, while the adjoining passageway provides a through route to the coastal side. This grand building portrays the importance of its sea links by the use of a nautical frieze above the doorway.

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