14, 16 AND 18, FRIAR STREET

Nos. 14, 16 and 18 Friar Street, Worcester

Two houses, now converted to three shops with a salon over the south and centre bays.

The north and centre bays (Nos. 14 and 16) originally formed one dwelling, probably built for John Watters between c.1526 and 1544. The southern bay (No. 18) dates from probably c.1536 to 1575. The buildings have undergone later additions and alterations including an outshut to the rear at the south end, probably dating from the late 17th century. Significant restorations were carried out in 1956 and shop fronts were added around the 1980s.

The buildings are timber-framed with brick and stucco infill, and have plain tile roofs with old tiles to the front and replacement tiles to the rear.

The original plan comprised two separate structures: the northern and centre bays formed a single two-bay building with the northern bay slightly larger and a cross passage in the centre, while the southern section was a single-bay dwelling three bays deep with its own cross passage to the south. The buildings now form a U-shaped plan with a rear range to the north extended.

The exterior shows two storeys with attics to the outer gables and three bays overall. Jowled posts are positioned at ground floor level to the cross passages and between dwellings. The first floor is jettied, with the bressumer beam now divided into three parts. Close studding appears on the first floor and attic at the south end, while the centre and north parts have an additional mid rail, and the south bay has a bressumer over the first floor. The ground floor is now occupied by shop fronts.

The northernmost cross passage has rectangular framing. Three replacement casement windows on brackets with leaded lights are visible. To the south (No. 18) a continuous cornice on brackets runs over the first floor. The south gable features a similar three-light casement window with continuous timber sill on brackets, and a two-light casement window appears to the north gable. The ground floor contains replacement shop fronts with multi-paned windows and glazed entrances. A cambered-arched opening marks the cross passage at the south, while a further cross passage has a straight-headed lintel and a panel of carved decoration featuring quatrefoils and mouchettes. A roof dormer sits on the south return.

The interior contains partition walls with large panels of square and rectangular framing and close studding. Jowled posts appear to the first floor, along with diagonal and arch braces. Chamfered beams at the rear, particularly at the south end, feature lamb's tongue stops. Clasped purlin roofs cover the centre and north bays, with a similar roof to the south bay. The first floor of the north bay contains two panels of painted decoration, probably dating from the mid to late 16th century, displaying a scrolling foliate motif that was found and restored in 1956.

Historically, the gable to the north bay is a later addition; the original dwelling had a simple roof parallel to the street without dormers or gables. Nos. 14 and 16, originally one house, belonged to John Watters, a painter, between 1526 and 1544. Gyles Taylor is recorded as living there in 1660 when the house had five hearths. By 1678 Richard Roberts was the tenant and subsequently became a Quaker. Thomas Biddle followed as tenant, and by 1741, when the property was sold by the Wyldes, it had been divided at the rear into three cottages and a frontage.

Friar Street originated as a rear access lane for buildings on High Street until the foundation of the Franciscan Friary in 1235. The first friary buildings occupied the stretch between Nos. 11 and 25. The south end of the street developed first, with plots dating from the mid-14th century, while plots at the north end date from the early 15th century. Many existing houses date from the Reformation period following the suppression of the Friary in 1539, when its property was sold by the Crown to the Corporation of Worcester, which demolished much for building materials. Building continued from around 1540 onwards, with modifications made during the 17th century, whilst the 18th century saw the replacement of several older buildings. The street was inhabited mainly by tradesmen including weavers, clothiers, brewers and innkeepers. During the 17th century, Friar Street hosted a notable concentration of non-conformists, particularly Quakers.