Old Merchants House

The Old Merchants House is a merchant’s house dating from the early 17th century. It was severely damaged by bombing in 1942 and subsequently restored as a museum between 1950 and 1953. The building is constructed of red brick in a random bond, with some flint detailing, and has a red pantile roof. The north front has one 6/6 horned sash window to the ground floor and two to the first floor, all within altered openings. A 5-light mullioned window with leaded glazing is located on the first floor to the right. The gabled roof incorporates two dormers. A later entrance is set within a yard to the west. The east gable-end features a small enclosed yard formed by a boundary wall, and a 5-light cross casement window to the first floor above a rebuilt chimney flue. A 3-light ovolo-moulded mullioned window lights the attic. The stack has a truncated octagonal shaft. The south side has two replaced sash windows to the first floor.

The interior contains extensive 17th-century brick cellars. A passage was added to the south of the ground and first floors. The ground-floor west room has a plaster ceiling with a geometric pattern of moulded ribs, circular, square, and petalled fields. The centre field displays the Royal Arms of James I with the Irish Harp, along with floral low-relief patterning and drop pendants featuring female figures. The fireplace has bolection mouldings, and strapworked doors with HL and cockshead hinges are positioned to the right and left. The east room retains roll-moulded bridging beams and a staircase featuring turned balusters. The first-floor west room also has an early 17th-century plaster ceiling with geometric patterns formed of moulded ribs, and an encircled sexfoiled star motif within a field of floral design, alongside jelly-mould drop pendants. A bolection-moulded fireplace is also present. The roof structure comprises upper crucks, principals, two tiers of butt purlins, and collars. The site is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument.