44 And 45, Market Place

44 and 45 Market Place is a building in Chippenham that was originally part of an inn and is now a supermarket with offices above. The facade dates from the mid-18th century and was preserved during its conversion into a supermarket by the Percy Thomas Partnership between 1970 and 1972. The exterior is made of limestone ashlar and features a double-Roman tile roof.

The building has three storeys and a four-window range, with Nos 44 and 45 forming the central and right sections of a nearly symmetrical facade that also includes Nos 46 and 47. The central range of No. 45 is stepped forward and has a pediment, chamfered quoins, a platband, and a plinth. A Diocletian window is located on the second floor, which has a 3/6-pane sash window at the center, above a Venetian window on the first floor. There is a wide segmental arch that once served as a carriage entrance but is now glazed. The right range features similar windows above a 20th-century opening. The cornice, sillband, and platband extend across the facade of No. 44 on the left. The original full-height canted bays on the right have been altered; the upper floors retain 6/6-pane sash windows, while the ground floor bays have been replaced with plate-glass shop windows that are flush with the facade.

Historically, this building was part of The White Hart Inn, known as Ye Harte in 1548, and it likely extended across the sites of Nos 44 to 48 Market Place. Notable figures such as Oliver Cromwell and Robert Peel are known to have stayed there. The inn's significance declined with the arrival of the railway, leading to its sale for private use in 1850. The building is included for its group value with neighboring structures.