Number 1 And Adjoining Premises

This is a timber-frame building, originally a house, later divided into three dwellings and shops, now two dwellings, situated on the north-west side of BotESDALE Market Place. The core of the building dates from the late 15th or early 16th century, with significant remodelling and an extension in 1637, as evidenced by a former date panel. Further extensions were added in the early 18th century and the 19th century, with alterations in the 20th century.

The structure is timber frame, with plastered walls, and incorporates repairs and additions using brick and clay lump. The steeply pitched pantiled roof is a prominent feature. The original plan likely comprised three cells, possibly with an open hall or a two-storey arrangement with a smoke bay, and a double-jettied two-bay upper cross wing to the left. A unit house or service addition was built to the right, along with 18th-century extensions to the rear.

The main range has a ground floor entrance located to the left of centre, featuring a 19th-century half-glazed door with traceried glazing within a reeded doorcase with lozenges in the frieze. To the left, a 16-pane sash window is set within an architraved frame. The parlour to the far left features a boarded door and an architraved fixed 12-light shop window, retaining an original corner post with three roll moulds and 17th-century brackets supporting the jetty. The storey heights in the cross wing were likely altered in the 17th century. Added bays to the right incorporate 20th-century casements and a door. The first floor has 2- and 3-light glazing bar casements, boxed eaves, and a 3:2 light architraved sash window above the parlour. Bargeboards are present, and the cross wing has a slightly taller ridge.

A main cross axial ridge stack, originally in the smoke bay to the left of the main range between the hall and parlour, features three diagonally set shafts. An internal stack is located at the right end, with a rebuilt capping. The left return reveals a part-opening former shop window, as well as 2-light glazing bar casements, and irregular 17th-century brackets to the jetty. The rear of the main range has lower eaves, a 20th-century lean-to, and a part-leaded cross casement on the first floor. An early 18th-century gabled stair bay is situated behind the hall and stack.

Internally, the timber frame has been significantly altered, and traces of close studding and cross axial binding beams remain. An arched brace to the binding beam is visible in the parlour; the hall chamber’s cambered tie beam displays a rebated soffit and a mortise for a crown post. The hall chamber was entirely reroofed in the 17th century, with one unblackened closed truss crown post surviving at the upper end. The hall includes a late 18th-century Neo-Classical fireplace, originally from Redgrave Hall, featuring caryatids and musical symbols. An early 18th-century dogleg staircase with pierced S-shaped balusters, capped newel posts, and an archway on the first floor landing are also present. A flint and ashlar cellar exists beneath, with the frame concealed in an adjoining dwelling.

Attached to the rear of the parlour cross wing are 18th-century outbuildings constructed of brick and clay lump, with part whitewashed surfaces, blocked and altered openings, reroofed to the rear, and a ridge stack with a rebuilt cap towards the front. A brick rear gable end completes the outbuildings.