Chilton Watson

Number 51, Chilton Watson, is a house that has been converted into commercial premises and a flat. It likely dates from the 15th century, with a cross-wing added in the 16th century, and has a rear extension and recasing from the 19th century, along with alterations in the 20th century. The building is timber-framed and recased in brick, with the front painted and the rear finished in colourwashed render. It has an old plain tile roof and stands two storeys high with two bays. The right bay contains a former cruck hall, while the left bay features the cross-wing, which is two bays deep and was formerly jet tied at the front. A full-width late-20th century shop front has been added.

On the first floor, there is a straight joint between the bays. The right bay has two tall windows, and the left bay has a single wide window, all featuring segmental brick arches and late-20th century uPVC windows. The eaves are stepped, and the roof is half-hipped on the left. The rear of the building has paired gables, with the right gable being smaller, each containing one first-floor window. There is a late-20th century single-storey addition across the ground floor.

Inside, on the first floor, the right bay at the end has a cruck truss with a collar and lower rail. There is a central timber-framed partition wall. In the cross-wing, large-panelled timber framing is visible, with jowelled wall-posts and wall-plates. The front tie-beam has a wide mortice on its soffit, and the central tie-beam is cambered. The roof features queen-post trusses, with principal rafters that have curved wind-braces to the purlins. Strap-hinged board doors are present. During building work, the original joists of the cross-wing were uncovered, revealing remnants of a paint scheme on their sides, along with the partly intact roof structure of the cruck hall. This building is an interesting example of late-medieval timber framing.