Bridles and Saddlers

Bridles and Saddlers comprise two houses, originally with shops, located on Chapel Street, Harbury. The core of Saddlers appears to date from the early to mid 17th century, while Bridles is likely from the 18th century. Saddlers underwent substantial refacing or partial rebuilding in the 18th century, with further alterations then occurring in the early 19th century. The upper left section of Saddlers was raised or refaced in the early to mid-19th century, and the entire building was raised and reroofed in the early 20th century.

The houses are constructed of squared coursed limestone. Saddlers incorporates timber framing with lath and plaster and brick infill, with some brick exposed at the rear. The building is whitewashed, and has a diagonally-set asbestos slate roof with brick end and ridge stacks.

Bridles, the house to the left, has a two-unit plan and two storeys, featuring a three-window range. It has a 20th-century door with a wood lintel, a blocked doorway, and large top-hung casements with glazing bars. Brick segmental arches are present, and the first floor includes 20th-century casements. The interior is said to contain an open fireplace.

Saddlers is of a three-unit lobby-entry plan, with two storeys and a four-window range. The entrance features a part-glazed, six-panelled door in the third bay, set within an early 19th-century panelled reveal and reeded architrave. It is sheltered by a pitched hood on shaped brackets. A large, early 19th-century shop window with glazing bars is positioned on the left, alongside a two-light casement. A four-light casement is located to the right of the entrance. Brick segmental arches frame the windows, with the window to the right incorporating a combination of small and large arches. The upper floor has two-light casements. Most of the windows contain horizontal glazing bars; the second window on the first floor has cross glazing, while the fourth window has numerous glazing bars.

Internally, Saddlers features heavy ceiling beams. Exposed framing and stud partitions are visible in some rooms. A room to the left has an open fireplace with a rough chamfered bressumer. There are 18th-century cupboards with fielded-panelled doors and H-hinges, along with drawers and a moulded cornice. One cupboard to the right has had its door removed, revealing a lining of half a barrel and shaped shelves. A straight flight and winder staircase with winders is present within the property. The first floor includes an old three-plank door with strap hinges, and wide, old floor boards. The roof structure features queen strut roof trusses with wind braces. Saddlers was formerly used as a saddler’s shop and workshop.