17, Chamberlain Street

17 Chamberlain Street is a house, likely originally two houses, dating from the late 16th century or 17th century, with an early 19th century facade and an 18th century extension in one bay to the left, which returns to Union Street. The building is rendered and colourwashed, featuring a triple roll clay tiled roof with a stepped coped east gable and a brick chimney stack behind a parapet.

The original layout was a central entry cross-passage plan, with the left room heated and a staircase located at the rear right. A further bay was added, which included a second staircase. There are lean-to additions at the rear, along with a small enclosed garden.

The exterior consists of two storeys and three bays, with the first bay projecting slightly. It has sash windows with exposed boxes in plain openings: a 6-pane window in the lower first bay and upper second and third bays, and 9-pane windows in the lower second and third bays, with no window in the upper first bay. The entrance doors are located between the first and second bays and between the second and third bays; the former is a 19th century boarded door, while the latter is a 6-panel door with a plain architrave topped with a label moulding. At the left gable, where the two ranges meet, there is a double brick stack. The gabled return to Union Street features a large arched 12-pane sash window.

Inside, the ground floor of the early section has large lias stone flags and very low ceilings. The staircase is a tight wooden spiral, and some wide elm boards remain on the first floor. The left side of the first floor has a fireplace with a very large timber bressumer. The roof is structured in three bays, with heavy pegged collar principals to a diagonal ridge, stop-chamfered purlins, and many original rafters; the ties have been removed, and lower collars have been bolted on. The added bay features a straight flight stair with winders at the top. This interesting early building is set slightly below street level, reflecting its early origins with a small vertical scale.