2, The Square

The building at 2, The Square, dates primarily to the 16th century in its rear range, with a front range added in the early 18th century. A traditional shop front occupies the western half of the front. The construction is timber-framed and plastered, with steep pitched roofs. The rear range has old red clay tiles, while the front range has slate coverings. A low, tiled, catslide roof extends from the rear. A lower workshop extension was added in the 19th century on the west side.

The rear range is two storeys tall, with attic rooms and a cellar. On the ground floor, exposed ceiling joists are stop-chamfered with run-out stops, and there’s evidence of regular close studding in the walls to the east and south, indicating a building of high quality. A large central chimney stack is a notable early addition. The roof structure is a 3-bay arrangement with diminished principals, slightly curved long braces, and cambred collars. A spiral staircase is located near the chimney. A 17th-century mullioned two-light casement window with leaded glass is found in the east attic, and a large northeastern corner post is exposed on the first floor.

The early 18th-century front range presents a three-window facade to the north. It is rough plastered over a black plinth and features a wooden eaves cornice with paired brackets. An external gable stack is present on the east side, serving only the ground floor. The front is near symmetrical, but the entrance is shifted to the east to accommodate the shop front. The windows are 2/2 pane sash windows with moulded architraves of a later, 19th-century date. A circa 1760 triangular pedimented wooden doorcase has tapered, plain pilasters, acanthus consoles, and a full entablature with a coved and arched bed mould to the straight and raking cornices. The architrave and frieze project above the consoles and central panel. It frames an 8-panelled raised and fielded door, with the two top panels glazed. A small semicircular, flat-topped bay window on the east flank has a moulded cornice and three segmental sash windows. A first-floor window on the rear range is an early 19th-century 8/8 paned flush sash, and a smaller 2/2 paned flush sash is located above the bay window.

The interior of the front range contains 18th-century two-panel doors, generally with H-hinges. The building is said to have been used by butchers continuously since 1838. It’s considered an important 16th century building with a good 18th-century front range and a fine circa 1760 doorcase displaying Gothic influences.