91-93, High Street

The building at 91-93 High Street is a former inn, The India Arms, now occupied by shops. It was originally built in the early 18th century and was refronted in the early 19th century, with further alterations made in the 20th century. The exterior is brick, rendered to the front, and has plain tile roofs. The street facade now has modern shops on the ground floor with a carriage opening on the right side. The upper floors show features of two distinct buildings, with six windows in total. A decorative band runs above all but the right-hand bay. The first floor has a 20th-century triple sash window on the left (91), and four plain sash windows on the right, three of which have stucco surrounds. The upper floor has six nine-paned sash windows, depicted in an engraving from around 1820. A large projecting cornice is present on 91 and 92. Parapets are visible, and the roofs are hidden. The rear elevations are of red brick with hipped tile roofs. Interior features from the early 18th century include a panelled room, a moulded ceiling, possibly in a former dining room, with a decorative cornice (in 91), a corner cupboard, a staircase likely dating to the late 18th century, a tiled and lead-lined ice-box (a significant survival from its use as an inn), and several door architraves. The building’s history indicates it operated as an inn from before 1750, with the properties at 91 & 92 potentially part of the original inn, although possibly a separate build. By around 1820, they were confirmed as part of the same inn property, later subdivided in the 20th century.