Nos. 31-35 (odd) High Street, Droitwich

Nos. 31-35 (odd) High Street, Droitwich

These three adjoining buildings, numbers 31-35 High Street, form a complex structure of medieval origin with significant later modifications. The original construction is timber-framed with lath-and-plaster infill, supplemented by brick infill and additions, with some rubble stone walling. The roof is covered in plain tiles.

The internal plan comprises several distinct ranges. A solar range occupies the west side with a cross passage at ground-floor level, while the solar and an ante-room are positioned at first floor. The hall stands at the centre of the composition. To the east are further rooms, possibly originally built as service rooms or shop space with a chamber above. The hall was originally open to the roof but a floor has been inserted at a later date.

Externally, the buildings present a predominantly early-19th-century appearance. Their facades have been rendered. The roof above No. 33, and possibly that above No. 35, has been raised so that the eaves level of all three buildings is now uniform. No. 31 is aligned with its gable facing the street. At first-floor level it has a large tripartite sash window, while at ground-floor level there is a round-headed doorway to the cross passage on the right and a 19th-century shop window with 20th-century glazing on the left. Internal evidence shows that the first floor was formerly jettied and the ground floor has been underbuilt in brick. Nos. 33 and 35 are slightly recessed to the east and aligned parallel to the High Street, with modern shop windows at ground-floor level and three six-over-six sash windows above. A moulded cornice runs along the top of the wall. Gabled dormer windows have been inserted into the roof of No. 33. The west flank is adjoined by No. 29 High Street. The east flank has been rebuilt in 19th-century brick with a hipped roof.

To the rear of the properties is a large courtyard bounded by the rear elevations of Nos. 33 and 35 and the west elevation of the extension to No. 31. Both Nos. 33 and 35 have gabled wings projecting into the courtyard. No. 35 is whitewashed with a single-storey modern brick lean-to. No. 33 has two gabled projections to the rear: the eastern gable is timber-framed with a blocked window at first floor and a glazed opening at ground floor. Abutting this to the west is a larger wing constructed of sandstone blocks with a brick gable, containing a timber six-over-six sash window to the first floor. From the courtyard, the eastern elevation of the rear section of No. 31 High Street is visible. A brick addition, apparently of service areas and rooms connected with the inn, extends the length of the courtyard and appears to be predominantly 19th-century, with a small 20th-century addition with a flat roof. The rear elevation of the original building is also partially visible and reveals elements of timber-framing with 19th- or 20th-century brick nogging.

Interior

The ground floor of the solar wing contains the cross passage to the east of No. 31. This passage has been partitioned to provide two small rooms and an entrance porch. It displays two visible pairs of moulded arched braces connecting from square wall posts to moulded cross-axial timbers. The ground floor room in No. 31 has panels of timber framing with a deep mid rail exposed on the dividing wall with the cross passage. The ceiling features moulded transverse beams in line with the roof trusses at first floor level, supported by arched braces. At the centre of the room is an axial beam with a carved boss in the form of a flower at the central intersection.

The first floor of No. 31 is accessed via an inserted staircase of 18th- or 19th-century date to the north of the medieval structure. The first floor is divided into two rooms: the ante-room to the north and the former solar to the south. The ante-room has been plastered and has door surrounds of early-19th-century date leading through to the rear wing. The solar has timber-framed walling to three sides, with large curved braces rising from the mid rail to connect with the wall posts. The top features a carved wall plate with brattished decoration. The southern gable wall has been rebuilt in brick. The room is divided into two principal bays with a prominent central truss. The truss has moulded wall posts supporting a pair of generous knee braces with deep blades rising to connect with a cranked collar which has a boss at the apex carved in the form of a flower, as in the room below. The two bays are subdivided by subsidiary trusses which also have arched braces starting above the moulded wall plate and rising to connect with a cranked collar. The roof has two ranks of trenched purlins. Below these are two ranks of deep wind braces, which are arched and cusped. A doorway with an ogee head in the north-east corner of the room has been blocked; this would have led to the exterior and may indicate a former access from an external stair. The north-west wall has a painted stone fire surround with a moulded square opening and moulded cornice. The walling behind this and to the right has been partially replaced and the moulded wall plate in this bay has been lost. Another fireplace, apparently of early-19th-century date, is present on the south-west wall with a cast iron grate. At some stage, probably in the early-19th century, the room was given a suspended ceiling, causing the timbers designed to carry this work to be suspended from the trusses above. The roof joins with that above the hall range on the eastern side; this triangular opening has recently been sealed with concrete blocks.

No. 33 has a large decorated truss visible at first floor level. The hall was originally open to the roof but a first floor was inserted at some point, and the roof was raised to create an attic storey. The truss has been incorporated in a dividing wall. It has deep arched braces rising from the wall posts to connect with a chamfered tie beam. The principal rafters are cusped, as are the central Queen struts. Further heavy timbers appear in the walls of this part of the building, including arched braces, a sill plate and vertical timbers to the eastern side wall of the cross passage. There is some 17th-century panelling with a fluted frieze and a door made up from panelling.