The Abbot'S House

The Abbot's House is a row of three shops, likely built with dwellings above, dating from the late 15th century. It features a timber-framed structure with a plain tiled roof and a three-bay plan, including a gable on the left and a long range on the right. The building stands three storeys tall and has a five-window range. The ground floor is entirely divided into three original shop units, which were restored in the 19th century, each with paired four-centred arched windows and a doorway. Above each doorway is an interlace frieze. In the long range, two units are separated by a wide arch that provides access to the rear.

The jettied upper storey has a moulded bressumer and is framed in close studding with a middle rail. The jettied second storey features a moulded bressumer framed in square panelling with curved arched braces. At the first floor, the principal bays are marked by wider posts with superimposed shafts and include four canted oriel windows flanked by three-light casements that project on brackets. There is also a three-light casement window in the first floor of the gable, with four-light casements above, all projecting on brackets. The tie-beam of the gable has interlace decoration, and the corner post carrying the dragon beam features cusped panelling.

The return elevation to Fish Street shows framing divided into two principal bays by an arched braced central post. There is an inserted door and casement windows on the ground floor, with casements projecting on brackets above. The Abbot's House is a remarkably complete and significant surviving example of a late medieval town house, with evidence of its original shop units.