8, Cross Street

This is a house and shop, originally built around 1635 and significantly remodelled in the early to mid-19th century. The front is rendered, likely over brick or timber framing, while the rear wall is of stone rubble with segmental red brick window arches. The side walls have a brick section in the third storey. The front block has two slate roofs at right angles to the street, a hipped front and back, with the front hips linked to give the appearance of a parallel roof. Four original red brick chimneys are situated in the centre of the right-hand roof, and a later red brick chimney is on the left side wall.

The building has a wide-fronted, double-depth plan, with a gallery and back block. A double chimney sits between the front and back rooms, and a dogleg staircase is to the left of the back room. The second-floor plan originally comprised four rooms, two at the front with an entrance lobby. The ground-storey partitions have been removed, and the courtyard has been glazed over to create a deep shop through both blocks. The back block has been reduced to a single storey.

The front elevation has a four-window range. A modern shop front occupies the ground storey. Upper-storey windows are sash windows in recessed box frames. The second-floor sashes have horns and two upright glazing bars to each upper sash, with margin panes, while the third-floor sashes are six-paned and without horns. A wooden eaves cornice runs along the top.

The interior retains many original features. The ground storey includes a single-rib ceiling and frieze in the former rear room of the front block. A painted limestone chimneypiece, originally from the front block, is located at the rear of the back block’s first floor. It features a Tudor arch with sunk spandrels, ogee and ovolo mouldings, and urn stops. A similar, unpainted chimneypiece is in the first-floor front room. A single-rib ceiling with a section of frieze is in a cupboard in the rear first-floor room. Chamfered door frames with scroll-stops are at the entrances to the gallery and staircase. The staircase is made of wood with closed strings, turned balusters, and a high moulded handrail. All rooms on the second floor retain their original door frames, which are chamfered and have scroll-stops. A small lobby provides access to the front doors via a studded plank door leading to the gallery. The east front room features a wooden bolection-moulded chimneypiece, and the gallery has a wooden three-light window with ovolo-moulded mullions. The roof timbers are visible at the rear left side, displaying trusses with threaded purlins and a ridge, with collars pegged high up on the principal rafters.

Historical records indicate that the house was town property, leased in 1634 to Richard Harris the younger, who was obligated to rebuild it within five years at a cost of £200. Construction probably began in 1635, as No. 7, which was rebuilt in that year, incorporated part of No. 8’s ground floor. The freehold was sold off in 1921.