31, 31b and 31c Market Place

Former town house, built around 1770, the ground floor and rear cross wing respectively converted to a gunsmiths shop and workshop in the early/mid-C19, with later C20 alterations for retail and commercial office use.

MATERIALS: of red brick in Flemish bond with a pantile roof and brick stacks.

PLAN: the building is L-shaped on plan, with the principal range (number 31) fronting Market Place on an east to west alignment, while a rear cross wing (numbers 31b and 31c) runs parallel with Ash Close on a roughly north-to-south alignment.

EXTERIOR: the principal elevation to Market Place is of two storeys in three bays, although attic dormers were removed in the C20. To the centre of the ground floor there is a half-glazed, two-panelled door with a fanlight in a pilastered surround with minor incised decoration and a plain entablature. It is flanked on each side by two plate-glass display windows with pilastered surrounds, moulded cills and plain entablatures. On the first floor there are three six-over-six horned sashes under gauged skewback arches. Above is a dentilled cornice. The gabled roof has truncated internal gable-end stacks to the east and west. The west gable-end has an attic platband and tumbling.

The rear elevation is formed of a gabled range which is of red brick with burnt brick headers in Flemish bond, the majority of which has been cement rendered. At the centre of the ground floor there is a C20 half-glazed door, above which is a six-over-six unhorned sash, while the attic has a C20 top-opening casement. A brick stack rises from the apex of the gable.

The rear cross wing to Ash Close is of two storeys with a dormer attic. Its ground floor has a C19 door to number 31b and a C20 door to number 31c. To the right-hand side of the door to number 31b there is a staircase window consisting of two-over-two unhorned sash with margin lights of coloured glass. On the first floor there are two six-over-six unhorned sashes immediately above each door. All openings with gauged cambered arches. To the roof there are two gabled C18 dormers with two-light casements.