Silk Hay, Fernwood and 23, High Street

Silk Hay, Fernwood, and No 23 High Street is a house that has been converted into three houses and a store. It dates back to the 15th century, with a projecting wing from the 16th century and various later modifications. The building features coursed rubble walls and roofs that are half-hipped and gable-ended, covered with stone slates.

The main range of the building runs parallel to and set back from the High Street. This range may have replaced an earlier structure from the 15th or early 16th century. The 16th-century wing, which faces the street, forms an 'L' shape with the main range and may have served as either a parlour with a chamber above or a shop. At the rear, there is another wing, now used as a store, which may have originally been a medieval kitchen. A Victorian wing, which projects on the right, is occupied by No. 23 High Street. The two-storey facade is partially obscured by the 19th-century building on the right. The windows include a variety of 19th and 20th-century casement and sash styles.

Fernwood features a wide door set under a flat arch. Silk Hay presents a half-hipped gable to the road, which includes a 19th-century shop front with a central door and a two-light sash window above. Inside Silk Hay, there is one 15th-century arch-braced collar truss with arch-braced purlins. The 16th-century wing towards the street retains the remains of an arch-braced, moulded roof truss and has a ceiling with moulded intersecting beams. In the south side wall of the front room of Silk Hay, there are some re-used medieval masonry pieces with medieval graffiti, including a depiction of a knight in armour. A massive stone chimney stack is located at the intersection of this range and the main range. The rear wing has a soot-blackened truss and is likely the kitchen wing of an earlier hall. Fernwood features a ceiling with deep chamfered beams that intersect.