28, Baldock Street

WARE TOWN

TL3514NE BALDOCK STREET 829-1/7/33 (East side) 14/03/74 No.28

GV II

House, now offices. Late C15/early C16, altered C17 restored internally 1981. Timber-framed, stucco faced, overhanging eaves with old tiled roof, brick chimneystacks at left hand side on ridge, and behind at right. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys. Twin canted bay windows, ground and first floor, with wood casements renewed 1981, and small high level window at left below eaves. Modern half-glazed central entrance door under C18 cut bracketed flat hood. Parapeted north gable is remnant of party wall to adjoining properties demolished 1960s. 2 storey plastered rear outshoot with old tile roof. INTERIOR: the 1981 restoration revealed a remarkably complete 2-bay timber frame, with close, heavy studding built off a sole plate, originally laid on earth, but later underbuilt in brick, girding beams and heavy floor joists, and wall plates. There are braced tie-beam trusses supporting a 2-bay crown-post roof, with fore and aft bracing to the collar purlin. The lower sections of the rafters, and collars are now exposed internally. The wall plates and girding plates contain evidence for 6 wooden diamond mullion unglazed windows, with associated shutter grooves. One window survives complete in the rear south bay of the upper storey. Evidence in south bay for ladder stair, modern staircase in rear outshoot. Chimney and fireplaces added to north in C17. (Ware 25" to 1 Mile. Surveyed by the Ordnance Survey Department: 1851-; Forrester H: Timber Framed Buildings in Hertford and Ware: Hitchin: 1964-: 42; Ware Society Newsletter: Perman D: Conservation Notes - 28 Baldock Street: Ware: 1982-: 8-9).

Listing NGR: TL3560414576