7 Salop Road

House constructed in the late C16 or early C17 and subsequently altered, first in around 1620, then on multiple occasions between the C18 and C21. The building was restored and extended to the rear (west) in the mid- to late C20.

MATERIALS: the principal, east range is of timber framed construction with plaster infill, a brick chimney stack and a slate roof. The south gable wall is clad in red brick. To the rear, the C20 extensions are of rendered brickwork.

PLAN: the principal, east range has a square footprint and is arranged on a lobby-entry plan, with equally-sized rooms to the north and south of the brick stack. To the rear, the later extensions have rectangular plans extending westwards away from the timber framed front range.

EXTERIOR: the timber framed front range is of two storeys under a pitched roof. A late C19 axial chimney stack rises through the western (rear) roof slope on axis with the central bay. The principal, east elevation is symmetrically arranged across three bays, with a two-storey, gabled cross-wing with a jettied first floor projecting forward from the central bay. The timber framing to the cross-wing is close-studded on the first floor, with a central rail on the ground and first floors, and moulded bressumers to its south and north faces. The main entrance comprises a round-arched, open porch with a wooden bench on the inside of the north wall, and a panelled door on the line of the original front elevation. On the first floor, there is a Venetian window with an eleven paned central element flanked by four-paned windows. The gable carries C19 fretted bargeboards and a C20 finial. The south and north bays each contain a C20, tripartite, timber casement on the ground and first floors. The north bay has close studding and retains the original location of two-light mullion windows on the ground and first floors, now infilled. The slate roof projects out over the south gable end wall and is supported on moulded timber brackets on brick corbels.

The rear elevation of the principal, east range comprises three rendered brick gables of the C18 or C19. Each gable contains a timber, multi-paned window. Later C20 extensions project from this rear elevation creating a U shape plan and largely concealing the rear elevation of the earlier, front range.

INTERIOR: the interior is understood to contain exposed timber framing throughout, composed of square panels, some with wattle and daub infill displayed, and long, straight tension braces. The original back wall is exposed, with mortice holes for closeset vertical posts, now removed. There is a chamfered spine beam with ogee stops and heavy joists to the southern ground-floor room, and an infilled inglenook fireplace with a cast-iron cooking range. The staircase is of the early C19 and has turned balusters. There are slightly cambered tie beams exposed to gable ends but rest of roof trusses concealed at time of a previous survey (1980s).