83 And 85, High Street

NEEDHAM MARKET HIGH STREET (WEST) TM 0855

3/87 Nos.83 and 85 -

• II

Two houses; built as one important 3-cell open-hall house in early C15. (the altered solar block is included separately under No.81 High Street). Alterations of c.1600 and mid C19. 2 storeys. Timber-framed, encased at the front in C19 red brick. Plaintiled roof with axial chimneys of red brick. Mid C19 small-pane sashes with flush frames, and flat arches of gauged brick. C19 4-panelled entrance doors with sunk and beaded panels and oblong fanlights. A large open hall is contained within No.83. The upper end wall has tension-braced close studwork and a complete pointed-arched doorway into the solar block to left. The crownpost roof is in 2 unequal bays; a steeply cambered moulded tie-beam has one surviving moulded arch-brace and a long octagonal crownpost with moulded capital and 4-way knee-braces. Each rafter couple has a pair of soulaces (collar-braces), a very rare feature in secular buildings in Suffolk, indicating high quality workmanship. At the lower end of the hall is a damaged spere; the cross-entry was within the service end, now part of No.85 (interior not examined). A first floor was inserted into the hall c.1600, the joists ovolo-moulded and the main beams also channelled. A wing to rear of No.85 has good C18 cable-pattern pargetting in panels; plaintiled roof with C17 axial chimney of red brick. The wing is probably a C16 addition to the C15 service end.

Listing NGR: TM0881055051