68 Fore Street

This is a substantial building on Fore Street, likely constructed before 1723 for Nathaniel Houlton, and situated slightly set back from number 67. It is a fine example of Vernacular Baroque architecture. The building is two storeys and has an attic, built with ashlar stone on a moulded plinth. It features rusticated corner piers and a double break to the centre bay, flanked by two windows on each side. The windows are glazing bar sash windows with moulded cills and aprons. A moulded cornice string runs along the first floor level, and a bold moulded cornice with a double break forward emphasizes the central bay, the bed moulds of which are also broken forward over the side windows. The roof is hipped and covered in stone tiles, with three dormers; the central dormer has a segmental head.

The central bay is distinguished by an eight-panel central door with a segmental headed fanlight of an oval and curved pattern, set within rusticated jambs with an architrave and mask keystone to the head. The door is framed by an engaged Doric column doorcase with an entablature, flanked by narrow semi-circular headed windows with architraves and mask keystones to their heads. The door is approached by two semi-circular steps. The first floor mirrors the ground floor design, but the central window is framed by engaged Corinthian columns and an entablature. The return front to the left has a similar design with three windows.

At the rear, set back, is part of an older house with two lower storeys and a stone tile roof, featuring two glazing bar sash windows on the first floor with a continuous label above. Blocked oculi are visible at the rear, and a tall chimney is set into the gable. Internally, an interior wall has been preserved. The fine entrance hall has tall panelled doors with segmental heads to the left and right, and a ramped dado. A good oak staircase displays three turned balusters per tread and a carved string, with a panelled and ramped dado. The first-floor landing also has panelled doors and dado. Good moulded cornices have been retained in some rooms.

Visible at the back and set in can be seen part of an older house - 2 lower storeys with stone tile roof. The building forms an outstanding group with numbers 65 to 68 (inclusive), numbers 70 to 73 (inclusive), the railings and gates to numbers 68 and 70, a dwarf stone wall to number 72, number 64 (Lloyds Bank), and the Usher’s Brewery Corner Block, as well as numbers 8 and the premises occupied by K.J. Lestor to the southwest of number 8 Wicker Hill.