74, High Street

This is a shop with offices and a newspaper distribution room, built around 1927 by A.H. Lister and F.C. Bayliss. It is constructed of plum-coloured brick in English bond, with a plain tiled roof. The building is three storeys high.

The front of the building has two bays at the first and second floors, with three-light mullioned and transomed casement windows on the first floor, and similar mullioned windows above. Two gables feature substantial, decorated, rectangular rainwater heads in the centre and on either side. The ground floor incorporates a half-glazed door to the right, leading to offices, and a symmetrical shop front. The central portion of the ground floor contains two late 20th-century glazed doors, doubly recessed. Flanking these are show windows with Cotswold stone risers and recessed timber mullions. Two pier cases are positioned at the far left and right, flush with the building line. These original pier cases have chamfered floors displaying brass depictions of the illustrator R.P. Glossop's egg logo, incorporating the initials WHS. Decorative tiles above the pier cases display the words and images “SPORTS/BOOKS”, “MAPS &/GUIDES”, “CHILDREN'S/TOY BOOKS”, and “TRAVEL/BOOKS” - though some are partially obscured by a modern burglar alarm box. The rear of the building has two cross windows at first floor level to the left, and a three-light window to the right. Hipped semi-dormers are present at the second floor, to the left and right, with a fire escape door on the left. At ground floor level, the shop floor extends to connect with an earlier outhouse, which has a blocked arch to the left, a three-light window, and double doors to the right.

The shop floor interior features encased steel beams in the ceiling. Rear roof lights, originally shown in the architects' drawings, have been removed. Original fittings remain on the first and second floors, with the exception of the fire surrounds.

The building is considered a good example of the quality of design and shop fittings characteristic of W.H.Smith, and the decorative shop front remains exceptionally well-preserved. According to Kathryn A. Morrison, author of "English Shops and Shopping", it is one of only a few surviving W.H.Smith shops to be in such complete condition and of such high quality.