Cromwell House

Cromwell House is a mid-17th century house, with alterations made in the early 19th century. It is constructed of coursed limestone rubble with a gabled stone slate roof and a brick rear stack. The building originally comprised two units, and now has a two-unit plan. It is two storeys and an attic, with a two-window front. An early 19th century open-pedimented hood shelters a ten-panelled door with an overlight on the left-hand side. Segmental-arched blocked openings sit behind the door and to the right. An early 19th century two-storey bow window with sashes is on the right. The first floor has mid-17th century chamfered stone-mullioned and transomed cross windows. A dentilled wooden cornice sits at the top, above C20 hipped roof dormers. A rear wing, dating from the early 18th century, is constructed of limestone rubble, with an added 20th-century storey and a gabled concrete tile roof. A further early 20th-century extension is to the rear left. The interior features a restored mid-17th century dog-leg staircase. A rear right room has early 18th century bolection panelling. A first-floor room, which was not fully inspected, has an early 18th century fireplace with a panelled overmantel. From 1675, the house was occupied by John Cary, a lawyer and agent for various local aristocrats, who claimed to have been a royal servant to every 17th century king, and entertained William III at the house in 1698. The building was formerly part of a larger house divided up after 1750, and occupies the site of numbers 30-36 High Street.