Former Masonic Hall, 166-168 High Street

This is a former Freemason’s Hall built around 1873. It was used for commercial purposes from around 1895 and converted into flats in 2017. The building is constructed of yellow stock brick laid in Flemish bond, with a stuccoed front elevation. It has timber sash windows and a renewed slate roof, gabled to the rear range.

The original plan included a main two-storey range with a basement and a double-height first floor. Later refurbishment obscured the original internal layout, and in the late 20th century, the first floor was divided to create a second floor. A four-storey rear range is set off-centre, following the slope of the land to the west. The interior was reconfigured in 2017 into seven flats, one in the basement and two on each of the other floors, arranged around a new central staircase. The interior is not considered to be of special architectural or historic interest.

The east elevation, facing the High Street, is stuccoed and has three bays. It features three large replacement timber sash windows, placed between pilasters with Corinthian capitals and decorative panels to the original first floor. The central window has a triangular pediment, while the outer windows have segmental pediments. Beneath the windows are narrow decorative panels. A dentil cornice, with decorative end brackets, is topped by a raised central panel to the parapet, bearing the inscription ‘MASONIC HALL’ in incised lettering.

The rear (west) elevation has mostly replacement timber sash windows with one-over-one glazing in segmental arched openings, except for those on the third floor, which were inserted in square-headed openings in 2017. These windows are arranged in a single row on the north side of the rear range and two rows on the south side. The west elevation of the rear range is blind, but the returns have pairs of narrow one-over-one sashes to each floor.

The ground floor shopfront and entrances introduced in 2017, along with the entire interior, are excluded from group value consideration under Section 1(5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, although any future works potentially affecting the building’s character may still require planning permission.