23, 23A and 23B, High Street

Shop and dwelling constructed in the late-C18 or early-C19. The shopfront was replaced during the mid-C20. It is now (2022) in use as a shop with flats above.

MATERIALS: the building is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond with stucco dressings and a timber shopfront and eaves. The partially-exposed rear elevation is of roughcast render. The roof covering is understood to be slate.

PLAN: the building is arranged on a rectangular plan facing the High Street to the west and enclosed on three sides by adjoining buildings. There is access to the rear via an alleyway off of Victoria Street to the south and a doorway in the partially-exposed south elevation.

EXTERIOR: the building is three storeys in height under a pitched roof with a moulded timber cornice. The principal elevation onto High Street (to the west) is one bay wide. On the ground floor is a timber shopfront with a brick base, consisting of two pilasters framing a large, plate glass window, with an entrance containing a modern (late-C20) door from Ironmongers Lane, within a moulded, C19 doorframe with blocked overlight, and a large fascia board with a moulded border.

The first and second floors each carry a single, timber sash window with gauged brickwork flat-arch heads with enriched stucco keystones. The first-floor window has eight-over-eight glazing and the second-floor window has four-over-eight glazing, along with a stucco sill. Between the first and second-floor windows is a long, horizontal iron strap with forked ends.

The partially-exposed south elevation has timber, C20 door on the ground floor. The upper floors are jettied. The first and second floors each carry a two-over-two glazed, timber sash window with horns, set within a plain timber surround set flush with the façade.