34, 36 AND 38, WEST STREET

This is a range of two buildings, united to form one structure and now containing shops. The buildings likely date to the late 15th or early 16th century, with later 16th-century alterations and a complete remodelling in the 19th century. They are constructed of rendered timber frame with a slate roof and truncated brick stacks.

The original plan consisted of five bays, incorporating two timber-framed buildings. The western two bays are what remains of a building that originally extended further west. Adjoining this is a building comprising three bays, which may have also extended to the east. In the 19th century, the entire range was refronted, outshuts were added to the rear, and the building was subdivided.

The south front has six windows across two storeys. The first floor contains six sash windows without glazing bars, with two on the left having keyblocks. On the ground floor, No. 38 on the left has a 19th-century shopfront with pilasters, an entablature, and a 20th-century door. No. 36 has a 20th-century bow window and glazed door, both with keystones. No. 34 on the right has a large 20th-century shopfront with a high fascia. Rear outshuts are two-storey high, with the ground floor windows blocked and the first floor containing casements.

The timber frame is exposed on the first floor and in the roof space. The left-hand building (Nos. 36 and 38), comprising two bays (with the left bay rebuilt), has a clasped side purlin roof featuring principals diminished above collars. There is a cambered tie-beam and collar trusses, a closed truss with queen-posts at the right end, and an open truss with a central post and two curved braces from the tie to the collar. It also features jowled posts with short curved braces to the tie-beam and curved wind-braces, and intact common rafter couples. The right-hand building (No. 34) also has a clasped side purlin roof with tie-beams and queen-posts to the collars. The left truss is open and built against the gable end of the adjacent building. The centre truss has close-studding under the tie-beam, and the right-hand truss tie-beam has mortices for studs below. Only the common rafter couples in the left bay remain. The roof timbers of the western building are charred.