27-30, HIGH STREET

A row of cottages, later used as offices, dating to the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The building has undergone alterations in the 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The construction is timber-framed with red brick infill, covered by a plain-tile roof with brick ridge and rear lateral stacks. The row comprises one- and two-unit plans and presents a six-window front. A gabled porch is situated on the far left, followed by a 20th-century passage door to the left of centre, and a six-panel, part-glazed door to the right of centre. Small canted bay windows are present in the centre and to the right of the porch. A three-light casement window is visible on the ground floor to the left, and a bay window to the right of the porch. The first floor is jettied and features a small, two-light window to the left of centre at floor level, with a sunk quadrant moulded surround. Other two-light windows are present on the first floor, with sliding casements on the right side of the centre. Extensions to the rear vary in height, with some being two-storey and gabled, and others single-storey with cat-slide roofs. Nos. 29 and 30 have a limestone rubble plinth, and retain portions of the original timber-framed ground-floor wall, which is otherwise rebuilt in brick. The timber framing is in small square and rectangular panels. Inside No. 29, there are chamfered spine beams with ogee stops, alongside some original ogee stop-chamfered joists, a substantial tie beam with curved braces, and other original features. No. 27 contains 19th-century veined grey marble fireplaces with cast-iron tiled grates on the ground floor, and a tie beam to the roof with queen struts to the collar and wind-braced purlins.