The Star Inn, including No.1 New Street and the former synagogue

A mid-C19 public house with two wings, incorporating an early-C19 former synagogue and an C18 dwelling, to the rear.

MATERIALS: granite-and-brick main building with stucco-plaster detailing to the parapets, cornice, and quoins. The two rear wings are a variation of granite, hung-slate and brick. All the buildings have slate roofs.

PLAN: a long plot running north-west to south-east, with the Star Inn Public House facing onto Market Jew Street and rear wings arranged around a central in-filled courtyard to the rear.

EXTERIOR: the front elevation has three storeys and two bays. The principal entrance is an off-centre six-panel door to the left with an open pediment door case. Above is a sash window. To the right at ground and first-floor level is a two-storey splayed projecting bay topped by a parapet with a blind balustrade. The second storey has three two-over-two sashes, the central of which is flanked by rusticated pilasters. Above is a parapet which breaks forward at the centre with a segmental pediment supported by decorative consoles. The right return is on a slope and has a descending three, two and single-storey elevation with sash widows. To the rear are two wings. Linked to the main building by a C20 timber covered entrance, the south-west wing faces onto New Street. The street elevation is faced in ashlar granite blocks and it slopes down to the south. It has four bays which include, from the right, a tripartite timber sash, a central recessed-arch door, a three-over-three sash and an in-filled rectangular opening topped with stone voussoirs. There are four three-over-three sashes on the first floor. The south-east elevation is rubble stone with hung slate to the first floor. The slate roof is hipped. The north-east wing includes a former synagogue at the south end. This is a brick structure, partly rendered on the ground floor and faced with hung slates above. The north-east elevation contains two large, arched, sash windows. The slate roof is hipped and topped with a terracotta ridge.

INTERIOR: it has not been possible to access the interior. The main part of the public house has recently undergone refurbishment. The serving area is on the ground floor, with cellars bellow, and accommodation and toilet facilities on the two floors above. The former synagogue and No.1 New Street have most recently been used as a children’s play area with toilets and cold cellar below. Features relating to the former synagogue and the C18 dwelling may survive internally.