8 South Street

House, probably built in the C17, extended and refronted during the late-C18 or C19.

MATERIALS: the southern half of the South Street range has a timber-framed structure at its core. The front (east) elevation is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond and painted on the ground floor. The ground-floor shop fronts are of timber and glass.

PLAN: the building is arranged in three ranges on an L-shaped plan, with the principal, east section fronting South Street composed of a north and south range and a third, ancillary range extending westwards along the southern plot boundary.

EXTERIOR: the building is of two to three storeys plus basement, across two wide bays onto South Street to the east. The east elevation is arranged in two sections. The southern section has three full storeys plus basement. On the ground floor, there is a plate-glass shop window with timber pilasters and cill, and to the north, a glazed door with matching pilasters and a plain over light. A plain, timber fascia board runs over the shop window and door. Beneath the shop window is a C21 timber cover to a basement light. On the first floor, there is a canted oriel window, the angled under side of which cuts into the fascia board below. The oriel has three timber sash windows, the central sash having six-over-six glazing, the outer sashes having four-over-four glazing. On the second floor is a timber sash window with three-over-three glazing, slightly recessed into the brickwork and with a rendered, flat-arched head. Above, a stone-coped brick parapet conceals the roof from the street.

The northern half is of two storeys, with a tall, brick parapet to match the height of the southern half of the façade. On the ground floor offset to the south is a shallow, segmental arched opening, formerly a carriage entrance. Recessed within the archway is a shop front with timber stall risers, pilasters and fixed, tripartite glazing, flanked by a pair of six-panelled doors formerly belonging to the carriage entrance. The southern door is now fixed back while the northern door appears to serve as the entrance to the dwelling above. To the north of the recess is a bullseye window with a casement window. On the first floor is a timber sash window with six-over-six glazing and horns, recessed into the façade, with a rendered cill and a rusticated stucco flat-arched head. The window is set somewhat higher than the oriel window to the south suggesting different floor levels between the north and southern halves of the building. To the rear are a series of C19 and C20 extensions.