NHER 35061 (Building record) - 8 and 9 Saturday Market Place and 123 High Street

Hotel, former houses. Western part listed as early 18th century; rendered brick, two storeys and six bays, plus three hipped dormers. Main office door off-centre under flat hood. Sash windows. Off-centre stack. Eastern part mid-19th century, colourwashed brick, slate roof, three storeys and five bays curving round corner. Door on corner with columns in antis (listing (S1) says '20th century doors' but does not mention columns). Left hand section might well be late 17th century. The tiled roof may well be original and is impressive in its depth.
E. Rose (NLA), 28 January 2000.

This building was altered in or shortly after 1804 as part of the improvements instigated by the Paving Commissioners. The property was owned by William Smith and the Commissioners wanted him to set back the part of the building fronting onto High Street, and remove a building projecting onto the footway fronting Saturday Market Place. Smith did not agree to this but it was stipulated at the Quarter Sessions on 16 April 1804 that he must take away the façade and rebuild the corner in a circular form. Information from (S2) and see also sketch in (S2) showing the building before 'improvement'.
In 1830 this building was listed as the premises of confectioner William Jackman, succeeded by William Parlett, also a confectioner but also listed as a chemist and druggist, his chemist's shop faced St Margaret's church, and the confectionery and restaurant part of the business, run by his wife, faced onto High Street. The building remained a confectioner's and chemist's and was purchased in 1876 by James Fiddaman who leased it to James and Lizzie Wenn. When Lizzie Wenn retired in 1909 the business was known as 'The Restaurant' and was described as having 'commodious luncheon, dining and tea rooms. Also Ladies' private tea room'. Around 1928 the premises were purchased by Greene King who commissioned a complete refurbishment. Two cottages, one of which had been a barber's and the other a cobbler's shop, were taken down and the whole building extended, providing further accommodation for the new hotel business. Information from (S3).
According to (S4) the building was known as Wenn's Hotel from 1961.
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 30 November 2018.