48, High Street

This is an early 18th-century house, built on the foundations of an earlier structure. It is constructed of ashlar sandstone with a steeply pitched roof, partly tiled with flat stone coping on the gables and moulded consoles supporting the kneelers. The building features early and later brick chimney stacks, two pedimented dormers, a small plinth, a band at first floor level, chamfered quoins, and a heavy, modillion eaves cornice. There are four windows on the first floor (the third from the left being blind), and three on the ground floor. The sash windows are in wooden cases, with narrow wooden architraves and plain cills. The first-floor windows have plain lintels, while the ground-floor windows have light carving and keystones. The entrance is approached by two carved consoles, leading to a narrow wooden doorcase with panelled reveals and soffit, and a panelled door with a rectangular light above.

At the rear is an early 17th-century wing, partially half-timbered and brick-filled, with a mullion eaves cornice, an 8-panel door, and a large chimney stack. The house is notably taller than the two-storey buildings to the south, and when viewed in relation to No. 50, a three-storey house, it appears almost as tall to the eaves, with a higher ridge. Original railings are present before a covered area.

The interior is panelled throughout on the ground and first floors. The front ground-floor room contains a doorhead with a segmental pediment, and a shell niche inside. A fine staircase features applied carved strings, three balusters per step, exaggerated ramps, and quarter landings with star inlays. The building forms a group with Nos. 36 to 58 (even) High Street, along with Nos. 54 and 56 which are of local interest.