53, Broad Street

This is a shop, likely originating as a house and shop, dating to around 1820. It probably has earlier foundations, with subsequent additions and alterations, including a shop front installed in the 1970s. The building is constructed with stucco over brickwork, and has a concealed roof. Architectural details include horizontal bands at the first and second floors, with outer pilasters – those on the first floor are in the Roman Doric style, and those on the second floor feature recessed panels. The first floor has single-pane sash windows with horns, set in plain reveals with tooled, eared architraves and sills. The second floor windows are two-pane sashes with horns, also in plain reveals with similar architraves and sills. A low, coped parapet tops the facade. The ground floor features a renewed glazed shop front. The interior ground floor has been renewed; the remainder of the building’s interior was not inspected. Historical records indicate that by the 16th century, Broad Street was a key commercial area of Worcester, situated on the direct route from the bridge. Several buildings in Broad Street, including this one, are believed to have origins dating back to the 17th century or earlier. The ground floor of this building forms a continuous unit with the adjacent property at No. 54. It is part of a significant group of listed buildings along Broad Street, which also includes numbers 10, 10A, 11, the Crown Inn, 12, 18, 19, 29, 32-36, 40, 41, 43-49, 51-63, 69, 70, and the Church of All Saints.