Conservationists have begun work restoring a 500-year-old cottage in the heart of Norfolk.

Dereham Times: Pargeter Anna Kettle at work removing old paint as she restores the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPargeter Anna Kettle at work removing old paint as she restores the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

Works on the pargeting of Dereham’s Bishop Bonner’s Cottage began on Monday and are expected to be complete by the end of next week.

Dereham Times: The pargeting which has been lime washed during the restoration on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYThe pargeting which has been lime washed during the restoration on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

For the first time since 1904, the cottage’s pargeting will be painted completely white in a painstaking process of lime washing and removing the old plastering.

Dereham Times: Work being carried out to restore the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYWork being carried out to restore the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

The cottage’s elaborate plasterwork had gradually become more and more colourful over the last century, but this was not how the cottage would originally have appeared.

Dereham Times: Pargeter Anna Kettle at work removing old paint as she restores the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPargeter Anna Kettle at work removing old paint as she restores the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

“For several years, we’ve wanted to carry out the restoration work,” said Dereham Heritage trustee Dr Peter Wade-Martins.

Dereham Times: Dr Peter Wade-Martins, Dereham Heritage Trustee, as work is carried out to restore the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYDr Peter Wade-Martins, Dereham Heritage Trustee, as work is carried out to restore the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

“We had some builders on site last year, and it didn’t go well, so this is really achieving now what we’ve wanted to achieve for years: making the cottage smart and tidy again.”

Dereham Times: Old paint is removed as the decorative pargeting is restored on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYOld paint is removed as the decorative pargeting is restored on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

Owned by the town council and managed by the Dereham Heritage Trust, the cottage houses the town’s history museum - which will reopen to visitors in the spring of 2022.

Dereham Times: Part of the decorative pargeting which has been lime washed during the restoration on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYPart of the decorative pargeting which has been lime washed during the restoration on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

Dereham Times: Specialist plasterer, Peter Collier, repairs the plaster around the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYSpecialist plasterer, Peter Collier, repairs the plaster around the decorative pargeting on the 500-year-old Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant 2021)

Dereham Times: A picture of Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham, taken at some time before 1906, which shows the pargetting painted white at that time.A picture of Bishop Bonner's Cottage in Dereham, taken at some time before 1906, which shows the pargetting painted white at that time. (Image: Supplied by Peter Wade-Martins)