78, High Street

WORCESTER

SO8454NE HIGH STREET 620-1/16/348 (West side) 19/08/99 No.78

GV II

House, now shop. Probably early C17 origins with later additions and alterations including those c1750; those of c1921 by L.L. Bussault of Newall Street, Birmingham for The Shakespeare Café; ground floor shop front c1970s. Brick with remains of original timber-framing to interior; decorative timber-framing applied to the upper storeys, plain tile roof. Three storeys with attics, two first-floor windows. Ground floor has glazed shop front and central entrance. First and second floors have applied timbering: lozenge motif to first floor and small box frames to second floor. A decorative gable to the front has diagonal struts. First-floor window: pair of 3-light mullion windows with two levels of transoms and with 4-centre-headed upper lights; stained glass has coats of arms of local worthies and the see of Worcester. Pilaster strips to ends and between windows, with frieze. Second floor: two 2-light mullion and transom windows, all with small, leaded lights, some with coloured glass. Attic roof dormers to either side of 'gable' have hipped roofs and diamond-light casements windows. Rear retains 8/8 sash to second floor and 3/3 sash; a renewed 4/8 sash. INTERIOR: attic has square panels of timber framing to gable end and trenched purlins; noted as having C17 roof trusses. Attic retains plank doors and wide floorboards. First floor retains some original joinery including fluted architraves with anthaemeon motif to upper corners. Beam to front room has ovolo moulding; white marble fireplace. To rear room a moulded cornice with paterae. Staircase from first to second floor has slender rod-on-vase balusters with square knops with closed string and moulded handrail. Second floor has Victorian cast-iron fireplace and 4-panel door. Basement has fireplace with chamfered bressumer. HISTORIC NOTE: in 1790 this was a toy shop run by May Wilson; by 1796 it was a bakery run by Mrs Mary Nelmes who became 'pastry cook to their Majesties' following a visit to Worcester by George III in 1788. In 1815 it was Henry Mountford's bakery and in 1861 it had become Samuel Hooper Mountford's 'Grand Luncheon and Dining Rooms'. In 1885 John Gee sold glass and china here and in 1921 it became The Shakespeare Café, for which alterations were made to the facade.