The Chough Hotel Including Blocks On East Side Of Yard And Over Entrance From Blue Boar Row

The Chough Hotel, located on Castle Street, dates back to the 16th century with later additions and alterations. The front facing Castle Street features a completely renewed two-storey timber-framed structure with a steeply pitched gable end roof covered in old tiles. On the first floor, there are six lattice casements, some of which are gabled as semi-dormers. The ground floor has a yard entrance along with irregularly placed similar casements and doors. Inside, some original timber work remains. The east elevation of the block facing the yard retains an original jettied first floor gable with exposed framing, though the fenestration on this side has been altered. A covered bridge at first floor level links this block to another structure on the east side of the yard, which is also from the 16th century and timber framed, but features an early to mid-18th century stuccoed front. This block is three storeys high with an attic, a deep coved cornice, and a hipped old tile roof, along with three hipped roof dormers. The windows are irregularly placed flush framed sashes, most with glazing bars, and there are central modern double doors on the ground floor flanked by two small canted bay windows. The interior includes a late 17th century oak staircase with turned balusters and a moulded handrail. The south side of the yard has been largely rebuilt, but features a narrow three-storey elevation to the Market Place with a tile-hung upper part and flat eaves supported by paired brackets. There is one window on the second floor, a canted bay window with sash lights that lack glazing bars, and a cornice with a panelled apron. The yard entrance is located on the ground floor. The Chough Hotel, No 6, and Lloyds Bank form a group.