3-7, High Street

The buildings at Nos. 3 to 7 High Street comprise a group of houses, now used as shops and dwellings. Nos. 3 and 5 date from the 17th century, while No. 7 is of late 16th century origin. All were substantially refaced and altered, and No. 7 heightened, in the early to mid-19th century.

The buildings are timber-framed with lath and plaster and brick infill, with plastered frontages. Nos. 3 and 5 have a tile roof, while No. 7 has a slate roof, and brick stacks are located to the rear. Nos. 3 and 5 are arranged in a U-plan. They are two storeys and an attic, with a two-window range. The frontages have mid- to late-19th century shop fronts. No. 3 features a glazed door with an overlight, wood pilasters with incised ornament and entablature, and a bay window with thin shafts having moulded capitals and bases. No. 5 projects with wooden pilasters and fascia, and a recessed glazed door with overlight. A central plank door provides access to a through passage. The first floor of No. 3 has a 16-pane sash window, and No. 5 has a four-pane sash window with a cornice on consoles. There are two casement dormers. The right return side of the building was faced with brick in the 20th century, and beyond are two timber-framed ranges with lath and plaster and brick infill, each with their own roof. To the rear are timber-framed gabled wings featuring jowled posts and whitewashed brick infill. Some leaded light casements with crown glass remain. No. 3 is partly underbuilt with whitewashed brick, with the first floor partially rendered, and an old plank door provides access. The ground floor of No. 5 was underbuilt in brick during the 20th century.

The interiors reveal much exposed timber framing, with chamfered ceiling beams and old plank doors with strap hinges. No. 7 has an L-plan, is three storeys high, and displays a late 19th century projecting shop front with central half-glazed double-leaf doors and an overlight. The shop front also features thin shafts, a continuous dentil cornice and fascia. An entrance to the through passage on the left has an old plank door with strap hinges and overlight, contained within a late 16th century moulded oak surround. Upper floors have sash windows, with 16 panes on the first floor. The rear of No. 7 features a large rendered gable with an original three-light wood mullioned window, and a smaller adjacent gable. A large brick stack with star shafts is also present. The ground floor is largely obscured by late 20th century additions. The interior retains much exposed framing, stepped stop-chamfered ceiling beams, an open fireplace, a 17th century six-panelled door with a spring latch, two-panelled doors with three-plank backs, and a late 16th century open well staircase from the first to the second floor, incorporating a moulded newel and splat balusters.