16 And 17, New Street

The building at 16 and 17 New Street comprises two houses, now used as two shops with flats above. It dates from the early 18th century, though there is evidence of earlier origins, with later additions and alterations including work from the 1840s to 1860s and the 1980s to the shop fronts.

The exterior is of reddish-brown brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with flat arches of red gauged brick and ashlar sills and cornice. The roof is concealed. Some evidence of timber-framing exists on the interior. The building is three storeys high, with four windows on the first floor. The first-floor windows are 6/6 sash windows; the second floor has 3/3 sash windows, all set in plain reveals with gauged brick flat arches. A moulded cornice sits above, topped by a low, coped parapet. The off-centre left entrance has a six-raised-and-fielded-panel door with a reeded frieze and a fanlight with radial glazing bars within a doorcase featuring an open dentil pediment on plain pilasters. A shop front to the left has a six-pane window, fascia, brackets and a cornice. The shop front to the right includes a six-pane window on an apron and an art-glazed door with a frieze and cornice, featuring outer pilasters topped by corbels and acroteria.

Inside, the upper rooms appear to have been raised in height. Some exposed timber framing is visible on internal walls. The house on the right (No.16) has a room with panels of square framing on two walls. Further interior features include moulded cornices, dogleg closed string staircases – a full-height staircase on the left and one from the first floor on the right – with splat balusters. In the attic of the right house, exposed purlins are visible, and the rear of the house shows an exposed wall plate. The gable end displays queen struts. There are also 2-panel doors, one being raised and fielded. The attic of the house on the left has exposed purlins.

A historical note indicates that New Street was formerly known as Glover Street from the medieval period until at least 1523. It was described as a street of dwelling houses with workshops behind them.