2 And 3, Norton Cross Roads

Nos. 2 and 3 Norton Cross Roads are a pair of cottages that have been converted into a shop. They date from the late 17th century and were remodeled in the late 18th or early 19th century, possibly by the architect John Nash. The cottages are timber framed, partially rendered, with rendered and wattle and daub infill panels, and feature a half-hipped thatched roof. They consist of two framed bays and exhibit remodelling in the Gothick style. The building is one storey with an attic, and includes a central eyebrow eaves-dormer with a three-light leaded casement.

The framing consists of square panels, with two extending from the sole-plate to the wall-plate, short straight corner braces, and long straight tension braces. The front has two windows, each with two-light Gothick wooden casements that have leaded lights, Y-tracery, and boarded external shutters. There are also two central boarded doors with moulded architraves and leaded Gothick overlights featuring Y-tracery.

Inside, there is a central collar and tie-beam truss with queen struts, and a timber-framed cross-wall with wattle and daub infill panels. The first floor in the left-hand bay has been renewed, while the right-hand bay retains a chamfered beam and joists. A 17th-century newel staircase is present, along with a 17th-century fireplace in the north-east corner that has a chamfered lintel with ogee-stops and a late 19th-century beaten copper Art Nouveau surround from the former Raven Hotel in Shrewsbury. A photograph from around 1900 in the shop shows the front of the cottages rendered and the former left-hand corner stack. The pair of cottages was likely remodeled by Nash as part of a picturesque village scheme that included Nos. 3-7, Atcham.