7, Copenhagen Street

WORCESTER

SO8454NE COPENHAGEN STREET 620-1/16/197 (South side) 05/04/71 No.7

GV II

House, now shop with office over. 1558 for Christopher Dighton; partly rebuilt c1717 by Charles Green; later additions and alterations include refenestration c1792 for Daniel Brookholding urwen; restorations c1980s by Wood, Kendrick and Williams. Timber frame with pinkish-red brick facade in Flemish bond, concealed roof. 2 storeys with attic to gable, 3 first-floor windows. First floor has three 6/6 sashes in near-flush frames with flat arches of gauged brick. 3-course second-floor band. 3-light casement to upper stage. Curvilinear gable end. INTERIOR: some exposed timber framing. Chamfered axial and transverse beams. To kitchen a deep brick fireplace and bread oven with arched bressumer beam. Closed string dogleg staircase has turned balusters from first to second floors, to upper landing a short stretch of splat balusters and newel post with finial. Roof noted as having exposed chamfered purlins and rafters with wind braces, queen struts. HISTORICAL NOTE: Christopher Dighton built this as an investment property, leasing the site from the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral; he rented it to Susan Billingham, then to John Hill. The original plan probably consisted of a front room with side passage, with a kitchen to rear and hall and stairs between front and rear. In 1640 the house was leased by the Dean and Chapter to Edmond Thomason (d.1697), his widow turned it into an alehouse, The Phoenix. Margaret Thomason d.1712, it was then leased to Charles Green, one of the Worcester School of Builders, who re-let it to John Edwards who continued to run it as an alehouse under the same name. On Edwards's death (1717), Charles Green modernised the house, raising ceilings on the first and second floors and rebuilding the front facade in brick and inserting a staircase. By the late 1720s Green's tenant was William Harnage, and on Green's death the property was leased to Richard Blount and then to Rebecca and Joseph Southall (Worcester glovers). In 1792 Daniel Brookholding Curwen, solicitor, rented this as a home and office from the Southalls, he refurbished and added 3 sash windows to the first floor. The lease was sold to Samuel Haden c1797. In 1820 John Hill, shoemaker, lived and worked here. There were then 3 generations of Thomas Jacksons, last makers, to 1864. From the early C20 to c1940 it was owned by Abraham Harding, hairdresser. Cooken Street was renamed Copenhagen Street following Nelson's visit to the city in 1802. The building was winner of the Worcester City Award Scheme, 1986. Nos 7 to 11 (odd) (qqv) form a group. (Hughes P: The history of No.7 Copenhagen Street, 1558-present day: 1986-).