21 And 23, Bell Street

BELL STREET 1. 5253 (North Side) Nos 21 and 23 TL 4826 1486:3/22 II GV 2. C15 or earlier large timberframed hall-house parallel with street. C17 2 storey rear wing at E, large central stack inserted at upper end of hall, and hall floored. Subdivided and yellow stock brick front added in C19. No 23 occupies the parlour section, the house part of No 23 the hall, and the shop of No 23 the service rooms and cross passage. Now 2 storeys and attics with steep old red tile gabled roof extending in catslide over rear lean-to at W end. Ends weatherboarded, plastered gable to W, chevron pargetting at 1st floor rear. Basketwork pargetting on 2 storey timber- framed rear wing with C17 cross windows and square leaded panes on E and W walls, and a large external gable chimney. W end has 2,C19,2-light wooden casements, 3 window front, slightly recessed 4/8 sashes. Two C19 shopfronts that at No 23 with shaped brackets to entablature over mullioned window. Ground floor 6/6 sash to house. 4 panel doors upper part glazed. Flat gauged arches. Archaic clasping plate over wall plate shows on W gable, back and front, and internally close set pairs of pegs on W tie beam indicates heavy close timbering. Axial beam in W shop has indications of partition between pantry and buttery, and post has rebates for two doors. Rear middle bay-post of hall now in kitchen of No 21 cut off below ceiling level. Use of clasping plate over tie beams above wall plate suggests an early origin.

Listing NGR: TL4825714862