The Grade II-listed building, which started life as a bank, has been bought by Jeanette and Anthony Goodrich, who already own the Rose and Crown inn at Snettisham.

The previous owners, Nell and Colin Bailey, have restored the property over the last four years and built up a thriving bed-and -breakfast business there.

Mrs Goodrich told the Lynn News that they intend to carry on the existing business and build on it, developing it into a ten-bedroomed town house hotel. Their plans also include a wine bar, brasserie and coffee shop in the former bank counting house, which they hope to open this summer.

"We are thrilled to be buying this wonderful building and quality business," she said. "We have long thought there was scope to open a stylish hotel and place to eat in Lynn and we are very excited about the opportunity, particularly in the light of the many interesting developments under consideration or under way in the town."

Bank House, in Kings Staithe Square, was Joseph Gurney's first bank serving many of the wealthy merchants who lived in Lynn at the time and the original strong room is still visible in the counting house.

Gurney's Bank went on, through a series of mergers and takeovers, to become Barclays Bank and was the first British bank to experience a run on it by its depositors.