A historic west Norfolk pub is one of 34 in Britain put on the market by owners JD Wetherspoon.

The Lattice House, in King's Lynn, is one of a portfolio at an estimated value of £40m to be dropped by the chain.

The Grade II listed building is one of two Wetherspoon venues in the town centre. The other, which will be retained, is the Globe Hotel on Lynn's Tuesday Market Place.

The company bought the Lattice House in November 1998.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: 'It is a commercial decision taken by the company to place a small percentage of its pubs for sale.

'We appreciate that our customers will be disappointed with the decision.

'The pub will remain open as a Wetherspoon outlet until it is sold. If the pub is sold then all staff will be offered employment at other Wetherspoon pubs or they might wish to stay on with the new owners.'

The sale marks the biggest since Wetherspoon, which has 953 pubs, was founded 36 years ago.

Other locations targeted include Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Worthing.

The building in Lynn became an inn in 1714 and remained as such until 1919 when it was forced to close.

It was originally a 15th century house used by the clerks of the nearby Chapel of St Nicholas.

Town historian Dr Paul Richards said the Lattice House was one of 59 pubs closed during the First World War, when the public feeling was that drunkenness was no longer appropriate.

He added it was under threat of being demolished in the 1970s because of property development but was restored in 1980.

He said: 'It's a medieval building with a very interesting pub history.

'I hope someone will take it on and will continue it as a very nice town centre pub.

'All sorts of people go there and it's a good, popular venue. Its history and character is now very much part of King's Lynn town centre.'