54 and 56, High Street

This is a pair of mid-18th century shops with a flat above, located on Maldon High Street. The building is constructed of Flemish-bond brick, featuring red stretchers and blue/grey headers, with a large M-profile hipped plain tile roof. The exterior is three storeys with an attic, originally featuring a nine-window range, although it now has later rear shop extensions. A large stack is located in the central valley, with L-shaped stacks on each flank. There are four segmental-headed dormers in the roof, two with small-paned sashes and two with casements. The wide overhanging eaves cornice returns around the east flank. The upper two floors have windows with flush 12-pane sashes, set within rubbed brick flat arches detailed with scalloped wavy soffits; the centre window of each floor has a simpler scallop pattern. A string band runs between the floors. Number 54 has a 20th-century shop front in hardwood with eight pilasters, two small-paned windows and two double doors. Number 56 has a 20th-century bank frontage with red-brick pilasters, fascia and a dentilled cornice with terracotta ornament, featuring three hardwood windows and a wide entrance with a folding hardwood screen. The east flank displays two segmental-headed dormers, while the west flank has two dormers with hipped roofs. The rear elevation is partly obscured by extensions and contains four hipped dormer windows. Internally, Number 54 has a first-floor room with mid-18th century panelling and a plaster cornice. The original roof structure of heavy timbers remains, including a late medieval valley purlin with casement and bowtell mouldings.