25-27, HIGH STREET

Nos 25 and 27 High Street, Pinner

A hall house of Wealden type, now converted into two commercial premises. The building dates probably from the 15th century and has been altered extensively through the late 16th century, 18th century, 19th century and 20th century.

The structure exhibits large-panel timber-framing with plastered wattle and daub infill. Replacement brick from the 18th and 19th centuries is present, with No 25 painted. The roof is plain tile with brick stacks.

The original plan comprised an open hall of two bays with a slightly-projecting two-storey cross-wing on the right. In the late 16th century, a floor and chimney were inserted into the hall. The building was refronted in the 18th century, aligned with the cross-wing. Late 19th century work included refenestration, a shop front to No 25, reconstruction of the right gable wall and a new chimney. No 25 was largely reconstructed with a rear addition around 1980.

The front elevation now presents two storeys across four bays, with the two properties defined by giant pilasters with stepped capitals rising to cogged eaves. No 27 has a chamfered plinth and a central late 20th century six-panel door in a wooden architrave with a bracketed hood and blind window above. No 25's shop front features a canted window with the door recessed on the right, beneath a fascia and cornice. The upper windows are six-pane sashes in reveals; those on the ground floor are set within segmental brick arches. The right gable displays a raised verge with a stack positioned forward of the ridge. A ridge stack stands between the two properties.

The rear elevation retains exposed timber-framing, underbuilt in brick. It preserves a three-light solar window to the left bay and a blocked six-light hall window.

The interior of No 27 contains surviving members of the original timber frame, including the partition wall between the hall and cross-wing. Jowled wall posts at the central hall truss were formerly arch-braced to the tie-beam. Original closely-spaced broad floor-joists and a chamfered cross-beam remain in the parlour. The hall retains late 16th century stop-chamfered spine-beams and joists. A small section survives of the chamfered bressumer from the original fireplace; the first-floor fireplace has a moulded lintel.

The roof over No 27 preserves a section of the original sooted hall crown-post roof. It comprises two arch-braced crown-posts: that at the parlour end has one brace to the collar purlin and one to the tie-beam; the other carries four braces, now three, going to the collar and collar purlin. The braces are set on a ledged base of the post. The posts are square on plan and unmoulded. Six pairs of collared rafters span between the crown-posts, with one pair extending beyond to the left; the remainder of that bay has been replaced and a chimney inserted.

Documentary evidence indicates the house had been divided into two tenements by the end of the 17th century. The brick front was probably carried out by William Bodimeade, a brickmaker who acquired the property in 1763.