52, High Street

BROMYARD

815/1/186 12-APR-73 HIGH STREET BROMYARD 52

(Formerly listed as: HIGH STREET BROMYARD 4)

GV II

A timber framed building with origins in the C16 or C17, largely remodelled in the C18, and a rear C17 timber-framed range, now a commercial premises.

MATERIALS: The main range has a timber frame, refronted in brick. The rear range also has a timber frame and brick nogging. Brick chimney stacks and slate roof.

PLAN: The building is orientated north-west to south-east, parallel with the High Street. It has one bay and three storeys. It is likely to have originally been a single build with neighbouring No. 54 which is separately listed at Grade II.

EXTERIOR: The principal facade was rebuilt in brick the mid C20. It has modern windows to the first and second floor. At ground floor level there is a shop front with a large window with glazed return and a half-solid front door. There are pilasters with fielded panels, and fielded panels on the moulded plinth.

INTERIOR: Not inspected.

HISTORY: Bromyard is a small market town that was first recorded in circa 840. No. 52 High Street is situated on one of the principal thoroughfares in the town which was known as Novus Vicus in the late C13 and recorded as Newe Streate in 1575. The street appears to have been fully built up by the early C17, though some of the plots have been re-developed since that time.

The front range No. 52 and the adjacent No. 54 High Street seem to be of a single build which was later subdivided. The building was refronted, probably in the C18, and the front leaf of its roof was raised to provide an attic storey. The building was refronted a second time in the mid C20. The rear range dates from the C17, slightly later than the main range.

SOURCES: Dalwood H and Bryant V, An Archaeological Assessment of Bromyard - The Central Marches Historic Towns Survey 1992-6 (2005) - http://ads.ahds.ac. uk/catalogue/projArch/EUS/marches_eus_2005/downloads.cfm?county=herefordshire&area=bromyard&CFID=1543698&CFTOKEN=53188440 - Accessed on 18 August 2010 James D, Insight Historic Buildings Research, An Analysis of the Historic Fabric of Fifty Buildings in the Central Area of Bromyard, Herefordshire (2009)

REASON FOR DESIGNATION: No. 52 High Street is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural: despite the C20 alteration to the principal façade, to the rear is a substantially intact C17 range which is a good example of the vernacular traditions of the town * Early date: the main range of the building dates from the C16 or C17 and the rear range is C17 and retains much of its historic fabric * Group Value: with the adjacent No. 54 High Street and many other listed buildings elsewhere in the High Street