18 and 20 Cross Street

The building at 18 and 20 Cross Street is a house or houses originally constructed in the 16th or early 17th century, and extensively refronted during the early 19th century. It was later converted to commercial use on the ground floor and subdivided into two properties by the late 19th century, with further alterations and extensions in the 20th century.

The building has a timber-framed structure, now largely concealed behind a façade of stuccoed brickwork. The roof is covered with slate, and the building has timber and glazed shopfronts. The main range is rectangular, with a long, primary elevation facing north onto Cross Street. The building is divided into two equal properties, 18 and 20. Later 19th and 20th century extensions fill the entire building plot to the rear of the main range.

The two-storey building has four bays across the street, with a pitched roof that slightly overhangs the north elevation. At number 18, the ground floor is occupied by a timber-panelled shopfront with a large plate glass window over a stallriser. A recessed entrance to the west has a pair of timber-panelled doors matching the shopfront, framed by timber-panelled pilasters. A plain, 21st-century fascia box sits above the shopfront. Two-over-two glazed timber sash windows with horns are set within moulded timber surrounds on the first floor. Number 20 has a simpler shopfront with a half-glazed door and a square shop window with a plain timber surround. A low, segmental arched carriageway with two plank doors is located at the western end of the elevation, set lower than the pavement. The passageway features chamfered spine beams and a stone corbel to the south-west corner. Above the archway is a two-over-two glazed, timber sash window with horns in a plain timber surround. A matching sash window is set higher than the one over the carriageway. A Salop Fire Insurance Plate is positioned above the first-floor doorway. Two lead-roofed, timber-casement dormers, dating to the 21st century, are set into the northern roof slope above the two first-floor windows at number 18.

A series of 19th and 20th century extensions are located to the rear of the principal north range.