39, High Street

A pair of houses, dated to 1487 by tree-ring analysis, with substantial remodelling in the 18th and 19th centuries. The building is constructed of rendered timber-frame, with a limestone rubble rear wing, and has a 2-span stone tile roof behind a parapet. Originally two double-jettied, 3-storey timber-framed houses, they were later adapted to create a shop on the ground floor and flats above. The front elevation is symmetrical, featuring thin pilaster strips, storey bands, and a ground-floor arcade of five round-headed arches, with a central doorway, bracketed cornice, and imposts. A right-hand doorway has a 6-panel door and plate-glass fanlight, and a matching window is on the left. First-floor windows are tripartite, with segmental-arched central heads within raised frames with cornices. Second-floor windows are smaller, in raised surrounds, and have 2-light plate-glass sashes. The roof has two hips behind the parapet, potentially originally street gables. The rear elevation has a 2-storey gabled wing with a 3-light 17th-century casement mullion window with leaded metal casements. The interior retains exposed timber-framing, including jowled storey-posts, wall-framing with wall-plates, and curved bracing. The roof structure includes collar and tie-beam trusses with chamfered tie-beams, trenched purlins, and wind-braces. A restored early 18th-century newel staircase features a closed string, square newels, turned balusters, and a heavy handrail. The ground floor has limited exposed timber-framing, with one re-set moulded timber in the right-hand entrance passage. This is a rare example of a late 15th-century town house.