The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Browne's drawing room
The Drawing-room in Sir Thomas Browne's Residence [Drawing].Click image for full-size. In Print: Souvenir of Sir Thomas Browne, With Twelve Illustrations, and Notes, n.p. Description:"In this room was placed the exquisite piece of carved woodwork over the mantel piece described on the next page.
The room is wainscoted and the ceiling richly moulded. The house itself was void of ornament externally, but no doubt richly furnished internally. In 1682 the building was assessed at £27, the Easter rate being £4, and the Reparation rate £1 2s. 6d.
Sir Thomas died in this house, October 19th, 1682, and was buried in the chancel of his parish church on the 24th. Lady Browne continued to reside in the house until her death in 1685. After this event it was sold by Dr. Edward Browne to Dr. Roger Howman, of the "Red Well," Norwich, to whose son, Dr. Edward Howman, it was transferred in 1705. After his retirement in 1745 to the adjoining parish of St Stephen, the house passed into the hands of a Mr. William Beloe, who converted the ground floor into a china and glass warehouse. In 1845 the whole of it was demolished, and a Savings' Bank took its place-another instance of the conversion of lead into gold. And in time this had to give way to an invisible and more subtle agent.
The Rev. William Beloe, author of "The Sexagenarian," "Anecdotes of Literature and Scarce Books,'' "The Biographical Dictionary," in fifteen volumes, and many other works, was born in the above house" (Williams, n.p.).