5, West Street

WARE TOWN

TL3514SE WEST STREET 829-1/9/180 (North side) 14/03/74 No.5 (Formerly Listed as: WEST STREET No.5 The White Swan Inn)

GV II

House, subsequently inn, now supermarket entrance, with offices above. C16, much altered C19, and ground floor gutted 1979 to form supermarket, with demolition of most of rear outshoots and construction of large single storey shopping hall, of no interest and not included. 2 storeys. First floor stuccoed above fascia, twin consoles and cornice from former C19 shopfront, Welsh slated roof. 3 flush set sash windows with small panes, and one modern raised sash window under eaves above former carriageway. Ground floor has modern irregularly spaced yellow brick piers and recessed shopfront. Former carriageway to inn yard at right, and heavy posts visible between modern brick infill. Cased-in chimney breast inside, to left. All construction cased on first floor. Roof divided into 4 bays, some smoke-blackened rafters survive to indicate C16 origin, with notches for former collars as evidence for earlier crown post roof, converted to side purlins. Cut tie-beams to form garret C17. Remnant of rear outshoot has a collar rafter roof. Site of the White Swan Inn from C19 until 1970s. (Hunt EM: The History of Ware: Hertford: 1986-1946: 106-7; Ware 25" to 1 Mile. Surveyed by the Ordnance Survey Department: 1851-).

Listing NGR: TL3578314374