A former language school in a building dating back to the 1700s could be turned into a home.

Under the plans the Grade II listed Hales Court House at 74 Upper St Giles Street in Norwich will become a five-bedroom house.

The building was purchased by the applicants Mr and Mrs Andrew after going up for auction in the summer.

If the plans are approved by Norwich City Council, the former school will be transformed into a family home with two large reception rooms and a new kitchen.

If the plans are approved by Norwich City Council, the former school will be transformed into a five-bed home with two large reception rooms and a new kitchen. 

Hales Court House sold at auction in the summer to a family of fiveHales Court House sold at auction in the summer to a family of five (Image: Google) Elements of the existing house can be dated back to the early 17th century, with parts of the basement walls believed to be even older than this.

The property is first mentioned in the Norfolk County Archives as being a pub called the Black Swan.

It is believed to have stayed this way from 1650 until the next entry which is the 1851 census.

The building has previously been used as a pub, council offices and a language schoolThe building has previously been used as a pub, council offices and a language school (Image: Newsquest) According to documents submitted by Raven Land Management Ltd, the area at the edge of the Norwich Lanes has undergone "significant change in modern times with the bombing of the properties to the west of number 74 and the subsequent demolition of these".

More recently the property was purchased by Norwich City Council and used as offices in in 1983.

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The property was adapted to be occupied by the Norwich Institute for Language Education (NILE) in 2001.

The house dates back to the early 1600sThe house dates back to the early 1600s (Image: Newsquest) During the Covid 19 pandemic a great deal of learning resources moved online and the NILE school now occupies 78 Upper St Giles Street.

The work to turn it into the school wasn't "undertaken sympathetically" and Mr and Mrs Andrew wish to rectify this.

Norwich City Council will aim to make a decision on the plans by December 24.