The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn is an inn constructed in the late 16th or early 17th century, with extensions added during the 17th and 19th centuries, and further minor alterations and additions made in the 20th and 21st centuries.

The principal south range and adjoining north wing are timber-framed with plaster infill. The 19th-century extensions to the north and the 20th and 21st-century extensions to the west and south elevations are of painted brick. The roof is covered in plain tile throughout, except for the outshut to the south elevation which is roofed in slate.

The building has an L-shaped plan, with the oldest range to the south fronting Etnam Street and a series of later additions extending back to the north along the eastern plot boundary. Immediately to the north of the southernmost wing is a 17th-century cross wing, beyond which are further 19th and 20th-century additions.

The principal south range is of two storeys plus attic across four bays. The roof comprises a pitched element with cross wing gable facing Etnam Street, with a hipped element over the later 17th-century range to the north. The 19th-century brick outshut to the ground floor contains an off-centre entrance within a canted recess flanked by a pair of bay windows and a recessed plank door in the westernmost bay. The main entrance is a half-glazed door within a plain surround. The two bay windows each contain a timber sash window with two-over-two glazing and horns with rendered cills to their south face and a two-pane sash with horns and rendered cills to their canted faces. The roof of the outshut carries a low balustrade of ornate 20th-century ironwork carrying the word 'CHEQUERS' in an arch over the doorway. The first floor and jettied gable have exposed timber framing painted black and white. The first floor has irregular framing with a curved brace to the west and carries two 20th-century timber casements. The gable has close studding, a stop-moulded bressumer and possibly original moulded and enriched bargeboards with central pendant. The end frame is exposed on the west gable, with square-panelled framing. A tall 20th-century brick chimney stack rises from the north slope of the front range.

Running north from the original south range is a 17th-century cross wing, which is slightly taller than the south range but still of two storeys plus attic, under a hipped roof. The west and north elevations have exposed square-panelled timber framing. The north elevation carries a ten-over-ten glazed timber sash window on the first floor and a three-by-three timber casement in the attic. Adjoining the west elevation of the 17th-century cross wing and the adjoining 19th-century extension is a single-storey half-timbered conservatory with a lean-to roof, built in the 21st century.

To the north are a pair of two-storey 19th-century extensions under pitched roofs with ranges of timber casement windows. The northernmost extension has a single-storey outshut to the north under a plain-tiled catslide roof. To the north again are a pair of 20th-century single-storey outbuildings, one constructed of concrete block with a flat roof and the other constructed of brick with a pitched plain-tiled roof.

The interior is understood to contain moulded ceiling beams and a panelled cupboard door with cock's head ironwork hinges. The staircase is understood to retain an original newel with an ornamental terminal.