Bourchier Galleries, House And Shop

A timber-framed and plastered house dating from the medieval period, with a cross wing at the north end. In the 16th century, a jettied parlour cross wing was added to the south end, although this is now underbuilt with an 19th-century shop front. Originally a single dwelling, it is now divided into three tenements. The south cross wing has 19th-century external features, including a double-hung sash window with three lights on the first storey, and good ornamental bargeboards to the gable. The internal features of this wing are notable, with heavy close stuccoing and ceiling beams carved with a folded leaf motif. The rooms are unusually high. On the first storey is a fine 16th-century fireplace, carved with folded leaf ornamentation and a central shield, featuring a monogram and what appears to be a merchant’s mark; it contains a smaller, late 17th-century bolection moulded surround with a Regency raised grate. The roof retains remains of a decorated crown post roof. The hall range is two storeys, fronted in brick and painted, incorporating 18th or early 19th-century features. It has a two-window range of horizontal sliding sashes on the first storey, one double-hung sash window with glazing bars on the ground storey, and a former early to mid 19th-century shop window and doorway. The 19th-century brick facing is built forward of the original timber framing, which is largely concealed internally. The rear has two gabled wings of late 17th-century date. The north cross wing has a single window range on the first storey, with a mid 19th-century splayed bay containing double-hung sashes. The ground storey has a late 19th-century shop front. The timber framing is exposed on the first storey, with modern bricknogging, and the gable has ornamental carved bargeboards, probably original, with a modern finial. The roofs are tiled.