49, 51 AND 53, ROYDON ROAD

This is a house, originally a single dwelling, now divided into three separate houses. It likely dates back to the 17th century or earlier, and was altered and extended to the rear during the 19th century. The building is timber-framed with a plastered upper storey and brick facing to the ground floor. The south end is weatherboarded, with the ground floor plastered. A shallow, two-storey red brick extension with a red pantiled roof projects to the southwest. The main roof is tiled in old red tiles and features catslide dormers over the central houses. Later one-storey rear extensions have been added, along with a lean-to extension on the north side. The original plan was for a three-unit house with a central chimney stack. A later external gable chimney was added to the south end, which was originally unheated. The front of the building has three windows – a three-light casement in the centre of the upper floor, and two-light replacement windows on either side. Similar three-light windows and a door are on the ground floor. Small windows have been inserted in line with the central chimney stack, approximately one-third of the way from the north end. The north end (number 49) is said to contain a large open fireplace and a bread oven that was recently exposed.