King James' former palace in Thetford is now appropriately called King's House - a large, square, solidly-built house fronting King Street.
Not only is the house a former royal residence, but it enjoys the reputation of occupying the site of the medieval manor house, once belonging
to the Lords of the Manor of Thetford. The only indication of earlier importance left today is externally, one (possibly medieval) buttress,
and a private entrance by a small pointed archway to the adjoining churchyard of St. Peters' Church. Previously these were internally,
two panelled chambers, some remains of panelling in other rooms, and one larger and handsome room on the first floor of the house thirty-eight
feet long, seventeen feet wide, and eleven and a half feet high, oak panelled throughout, the wall surface broken up by handsome engaged fluted
Ionic pilasters. This room is now used as the Council Chamber.Blomefield, the historian of Norfolk, whose history was published in 1739, tells that the site of the Manor House, being the Earl Warrenne's seat in Thetford, was where Sir John Wodehouse's house, commonly called "The King's House" then stood. He also tells that "Thetford hath been honoured with the presence of many King's and Queens, several of which used to reside here. These include Henry I, Henry II and several others and that when dominion came with the Dutchy of Lancaster to the Crown, the ancient seat of the Earl Warrens became a palace, and was re-built by the Crown and it is believed that in Queen Elizabeth I time it was used by her as a hunting seat, also by her successor King James I who used to hunt here almost every season.
Very often the owner, or owners of the King's House have not resided there, but leased to or rented the house to someone else. The King's House attracted many wealthy and prominent members of society. Including Henry Best (a local surgeon and general practitioner), Cornell Henry Fison (the senior member of a local family of merchants) until 1886 and after his death in 1895 it came into the possession of George Wild Staniforth, a retired Yorkshire businessman. His generosity and love for the town of Thetford was fully revealed after his death in January 1947. He had bequeathed to the town his King's House and its spacious gardens, a valuable library and other gifts.
The Gardens are situated at the rear of King's House. Opening times:
Summer- 8.00 am to 6.00 pm : Winter - 8.00 am to dusk.