7 And 9, Bargate Street

Nos 7 and 9 Bargate Street are shop premises that were formerly a house, dating back to the 15th century, with alterations made particularly in the 18th century and mid-19th century. The building features painted brick that partially conceals the remaining timber-frame, along with some plastering, and has tiled roofs. It has a two-bay front and a single-bay rear wing for No. 9, with a lean-to behind No. 7. Currently, it is a low two-storey house with a brick-block cornice. On the first floor, there is a small mid-19th century casement window to the right, while the front consists mainly of two plain shop windows, with the left-hand one for No. 7 featuring glazing bars, and a central recessed entry for No. 9. The entrance to No. 7 is from the chamfered left-hand corner. There is a raised brick verge on the left side with a stunted chimney, and a large chimney at the right-hand gable shared with No. 11 (The White House).

Inside, No. 7 retains a massive crown post with down-swinging braces supporting a steeply cambered arch-braced tie beam, likely from the upper chamber of the solar. No. 9 is part of what was presumably a two-bay open hall, featuring smoke-blackened rafters and a deep arch-braced collar central truss. The brace and wall-post have deeply moulded chamfers on the upper end and simpler chamfers on the lower end. Some timber-framing can still be seen between No. 9 and its rear wing on the first floor. The lower bay of the hall and the assumed service wing were likely demolished in the 18th century when No. 11 (The White House) was built, which has its gable partly supported by the central hall truss. This building appears to have originally been a timber-framed four-bay open hall house. Crown posts with down-swinging braces are relatively rare in Staffordshire and Shropshire, making this building's plain exterior deceptive in terms of its significant internal features.