Number 81 And Former Meeting Room At Rear

NEEDHAM MARKET HIGH STREET (WEST) TM 0855

3/86 No.81 and former meeting - room at rear

• II

House; the solar block of a high-quality house of early C15, the major part of which is contained within Nos.83 and 85 High Street. Alterations of c.1600 and C19. Timber-framed and plastered. Plaintiled roof with rear C16 chimney of red brick. 2 windows, 2 storeys. C19 small-pane sashes and recessed 4- panelled entrance door. The range is of unusual form, with a single ground storey room beneath a narrow solar with ante-room to left. The plain crownpost roof to the latter survives, in line with the hall roof. The roof above the solar, apparently once of narrow cross-wing form, has been rebuilt. A cambered tie-beam in the 2-bay solar has thick arch-braces whose pilasters have been cut away. At ground storey is a massive chamfered and knee-braced bridging joist. A rear C17 2-storey wing has an ovolo-moulded 1st floor beam. A single-storey wing further to rear contains a vacant meeting room formerly used by the Plymouth Brethren. It is of C16/C17 origin, timber-framed and plastered, with early C19 small-pane sashes. Early C19 battened and boarded entrance door; the head of the doorway is ogee-arched in the late C14 manner.

Listing NGR: TM0881355046