16, High Street

HIGH STREET 1. 5236 No 16

SU 73 NW SP/547

II GV

1. House, now shop. C15, refronted late C19. Timber frame, with largely brick infill and old tile roof to main building. Painted brick, grey slate roof to C19 front. Three bays divided by closed trusses. Centre (hall) and rear (kitchen?) bays open to roof, which is heavily smoke-blackened, indicating open hearths. Front bay perhaps storied ab initio. Facade 2 storeys, two windows (glazing bar sashes); C20 shop front to ground floor; hipped end of main roof rises above ridge of C19 front roof which is at right angles to the original. Internally, many of the principal elements of the timber frame are exposed at first floor level. The trusses have cambered tie beams and collars (with broad crown studs) supporting clasped purlins. The central bay has wind- braces in the plane of the rafters, one brace surviving. The roof is half- hipped to the rear (kitchen) bay, with a tiny gablet (vent?) above. An essentially complete small medieval house, an unusual survival in an urban context.

Listing NGR: SU7181939442