Harp House

SO 3288 BISHOP'S CASTLE C.P. CHURCH STREET (east side)

12/34 No. 26 (Harp House) - 28/7/50 GV II House, latterly inn. Early- to mid-C16, refaced and eaves raised probably in late-C18, and extended in mid- to late-C19. Timber framed with herringbone brick nogging to left and rendered to right, and painted limestone rubble plinth; C19 slate and graded stone slate roof with catslide over outshut to right at rear. Probable former open hall of 2 framed bays to right and 2 framed bay cross wing projecting to left. One storey and attic, 2 storeys and 2 storeys and attic to left at near. Brick ridge stack off-centre to right and lateral stack to left of cross wing at rear. Framing: square panels and close studding, decorative herringbone framing, vertical cable moulding, and corner braces. Hall range: 2 first floor late-C20 casements to left; ground floor mid- to late-C19 painted brick and timber framed square bay to right with horizontally sliding sashes to right and 6-light window to left; late-C20 boarded door to left. Cross wing: jettied first floor and gable-end with moulded bressumers and brackets; 2-light C20 attic casement in gable-end and ground floor late-19 twenty-pane glazing bar sash; evidence of blocked first floor window beneath gable jetty. Queen strut truss exposed in gable-end to right. Late-C20 garage block to right. Interior: central raised-cruck truss to hall range. Close studded wall separating hall range and cross wing with wall painting on ground floor in cross wing depicting female figure and flowers etc. No. 26 is reputed to have been The Harp Inn in 1642, though it was probably a house before that date.

Listing NGR: SO3233588607