2 And 4, Church Street

The buildings at 2 and 4 Church Street are a complex of what were probably two houses, now used as shops, offices, and a flat. The structure likely originated in the late 16th century, with subsequent development in the 17th century and a late 19th-century shop front.

The buildings are timber-framed with white-rendered infill panels, and a plain-rendered low wing. The roof is slate, with tiles on the lower wing. The facade presents four bays, with a one-room depth on the left and two on the right. A two-storey extension is situated at the right-hand end. The left side features a shop front with six vertical panes of glass set between panelled pilasters with consoles, framing a plain fascia. An angled entrance opens onto the street, with a recessed door set back behind a porch. A black painted, lean-to roof, likely made of sheet metal, covers the entrance. Above the shop front are closely-spaced studs and a three-light, 20th-century mullion and transom window. A jetty is present above, with a brace to the left corner post. The framing to the second floor includes a bressumer supported by braces from the corner post. Further 20th-century mullion and transom windows are located to the left of centre and a single-light window to the right. A scalloped eaves board is visible. The left return gable has a jetty at the second-floor level. The building to the right projects forward above the shop front, displaying a ground-floor render between four heavy posts. It includes two sash windows—one pane at the bottom and three panes at the top—on the first floor. The upper floor features heavy timbering with three main posts, originally with moulded fronts, and a curved head to the brace above. Herringbone bracing is present between the left post and the first stud, with rails forming five small square panels between studs. This detail is mirrored to the right, and a three-light mullion and transom window is a prominent feature. On the second floor, framing mirrors the first floor, with two-light mullion and transom windows. Scalloped eaves are also present. Exposed gable ends are rendered. The ridge’s end for the rear wing appears above a cross ridge. A lower wing to the right provides access to the upper floors, featuring a door on the left and a window on the right, with paired narrow windows on the first floor, all dating from the late 20th century.

Inside, the building on the left is supported by circular cast-iron columns in the shop area. The right-hand section has heavy chamfers to the ceiling beams. The first floor of the front room on the right has a ceiling divided into six sections by beams, with ornate stops. On the left, the ceiling is quartered with a dragon and two subsidiary beams; bar stops are present on two of the main beams only. The roof was not inspected internally. The original construction involved jettied first and second floors on both timber-framed sections. The offices between 2 Church Street and 1 Broad Street are part of the property and are listed separately under Market Square.