38,40 AND 42, MARKET PLACE

No. 38, 40 and 42 Market Place

A former house converted into shops, early to mid-16th century in date, refurbished and extended in 1958, with mid-19th century alterations. The building stands two storeys throughout.

The front elevation is rendered rubble with much patching in brick to the rear; Welsh slate gable-end roofs are present. The front presents a regular range of three hornless sash windows, with the first floor windows in reveals containing 16 panes and 4 panes respectively. The ground floor has three mid-19th century shopfronts with pilasters and cornices, 2-light plate-glass windows, and contemporary half-glazed and panelled doors. A brick stack sits at the left-hand end; stone coping survives high above present roof level, indicating the original use of thatch.

The building originated as a three-room plan with a cross-passage and an external stair turret to the rear of the passage. In 1598, the principal first-floor room received a plaster ceiling. A rear wing forming an L-shaped plan may have been added at this time. The rear elevation shows the main range without windows, a 19th century lean-to, and a stair turret rebuilt in brick under a catslide in the angle between range and wing. The rear wing contains substantial brick infill with three first-floor sash windows in reveals and modern modifications at ground level.

The interior retains much early work. The ground floor is flagged throughout but substantially rearranged for shop use. The principal first-floor room features a plaster ceiling dated 1598 with single ribs forming connected quatrefoils containing fleur de lys, animals, the Percy crescent, and initials AM with knot. A large royal coat of arms is positioned over a blocked fireplace. Later stairs of circa 1800 with turned balusters are present. A plain plank and muslin screen divides this room from the next. The centre room contains a stone four-centred arched doorway in the rear wall. A simple slate fire surround is in the right-hand room. The rear wing contains fireplaces with simple stone surrounds, one incorporating an oven. The first-floor rear wing room has a cyma recta moulded plaster cornice and original plain plaster ceiling.

The roof survives as a remarkable structure possibly of two phases from east to west: two trusses with pegged and morticed principals and cambered ties; a third truss over the plank and muslin screen with king-post and queen struts; a fourth with principals and cambered tie; and a fifth with principals and collar.

This building is a notable survival in Cumbria of a 16th-century town house, retaining two plaster ceilings, plank and muslin screen, intact roof structure, and various period features, together with an attractive mid-19th century front elevation.