40, Shambles

No. 40 Shambles is a house that has been converted into a shop and office. It dates from the early 18th century, with alterations made in the early 19th century and a shopfront added in the mid-19th century. The building is constructed of orange-red brick in stretcher bond, featuring a timber cornice and a hipped pantile roof with a brick stack.

The exterior consists of a three-storey, one-window front. The shop area includes a margin-glazed and panelled door, along with an 8-pane window beneath a plain cornice. On the first floor, there is a tripartite window with 4:12:4-pane sashes, while the second floor has a 16-pane sash window. A two-course raised brick sill band is present on the first floor, and a five-course band on the second floor. The building is topped with a moulded modillion eaves cornice and features a fluted inverted bell rainwater head.

At the rear, the three-storey gable wall has a single window with 16-pane sashes on the ground and first floors, and a 2x4-pane Yorkshire sash on the second floor, all with segmental brick arches.

Inside, the ground floor front room retains a moulded timber cornice above the shop window and door. The first floor features a close string staircase leading to the second floor, complete with turned balusters, square newels with attached half balusters, and a plain handrail. A two-panel plank door leads to the rear room, which has pegged-on moulding. The front room includes a cast-iron fireplace set in a shaped surround. On the second floor, the front room has a six-panel door, and the fireplace is concealed by shelving, with a plank cupboard door to the right.