30-34, HIGH STREET

Nos 30 to 34 on High Street are mid-18th century buildings that were formerly known as the George Inn. They are constructed of red brick, featuring grey headers between the window ranges and rusticated brick quoins that rise to the cornice level. The buildings have a moulded brick cornice above the first floor and rubbed brick voussoirs on the first floor. The pitched tile roof is concealed by a parapet with ashlar coping, and there are red brick chimneys. The structure consists of three storeys and five bays, with the central three bays projecting forward. The two outer bays have Venetian windows with double-hung sashes and glazing bars on the first floor, while the remaining windows are double-hung sashes with glazing bars, with segment-headed windows on the second floor. However, two of the second-floor windows have been filled in. Each of the three houses has shopfronts on the ground floor. No 30 features a segmental bay on either side of the door, with a dentilled cornice above a glazed double doorway that has a semi-circular fanlight. No 32 has one oblong bay window with glazing bars, a door with an oblong fanlight, and a moulded cornice above both. No 34 includes an oblong bay window with renewed glazing bars on either side of panelled double doors, which are three-quarters glazed with marginal glazing bars. A moulded entablature with a fret pattern on the frieze runs over all the buildings. In the 18th century, the George Inn was owned by the Duke of Norfolk and served as the political centre for the local Whig party until it was replaced by the Norfolk Arms between 1783 and 1785. Nos 18 to 34, along with the Castle Walls and Town Gates, form a group.