3a and 3b, The Traverse

Nos. 3A and 3B on The Traverse is a house that has been divided into two shops on the ground floor, with storage space above. It dates back to the 16th century, with alterations made in the 18th century. The building is timber-framed and rendered, featuring plaintiled mansard roofs and a modillion eaves cornice on the main front.

The exterior has three windows on the first floor and two on the second floor, all of which are sash windows without glazing bars and set in flush cased frames. The rear elevation facing Skinner Street shows the mansard roof jettied out above the second storey, with signs of a former jetty on the first storey as well. The roughcast surface covers both storeys, while the apex of the gable is rendered. Some of the sash windows have small panes.

Inside, the cellar extends beneath both sections of the front. It features heavy 16th-century cross-beams that are chamfered and supported by timber posts at both the front and rear. There are substantial joists set on edge, and the brick walls consist of bricks from various periods, including two short vaulted sections that run below the street. Few timbers are exposed inside, and none are visible within the shops. The mansard roofs were added in the 18th century.