Thomas Paine was Thetford's most famous son.  Born in Thetford on 29th January 1737 in White Hart Street (formerly Bridge-gate Street), within the grounds of the building presently known as The Thomas Paine Hotel.   He was the son of a Quaker and was educated at the Free Grammar School in Thetford.  He was a revolutionary writer, defender of the rights of the common man and political thinker extraordinary.  He played a significant part in both the American War of Independence and the French Revolution.  Most notably he wrote 'The Rights of Man' , 'The Age of Reason' and the famous pamphlets 'Common Sense' and 'American Crisis'.  Thomas Paine died in 1809 in the United States of America.

In 1967 the above statue was erected at the front of King's House - a bronze gilt statue sculpted by Charles Wheeler.   This was presented to the people of Thetford by the Thomas Paine Foundation, New York, USA.  

Part of the inscription reads:

'Justice is due to every man: I seek no recompense - I fear no consequences.  Fortified with that proud integrity that disdains triumph or to yield, I will advocate the rights of man: it is an affront to truth to treat falsehood with complaisance'

Further information about Thomas Paine is available on     http://www.thomaspainesocietyuk.org.uk/ (UK Website),    http://www.thomaspainesociety.org  (USA Website),      The Tom Paine Project - Lewes  (UK Website)