No. 15 Fore Street and cottage at rear

No. 15 Fore Street and the cottage at the rear is known as Taunton's famous "Ancient House," previously Halliday's Shop. It is believed to have been the town house of the Portmans. The building features an overhanging three-storey timbered front dated 1578, with the initials TT and IT. It has a very high red tiled roof, with the upper part of the gable breaking forward above the second-floor oriel, and the second floor is jettied as well. The structure includes carved bressumers and bargeboards with pendant, curved braces in the studding. The second floor has an eight-light oriel, while the first floor boasts a nine-light oriel with additional lights at the sides, creating a continuous 17-light window. All windows are mullioned and transomed, featuring leaded lights. The ground floor fascia has beading and billet motifs over modern shop fronts. There is a pointed stone arch entry on the left side, with an original wooden door, and a wrought iron ornamental bracket for a bell. Behind the late 16th-century front, a late medieval hall with an open trussed roof and arched braces survives, although the interior has been considerably restored.

The rear wing, previously listed as 'The Cottage,' is part of the same property and likely served as the servants' quarters. It is accessed through the arched entry at the side of No. 15 and along a picturesque narrow court. This two-storey structure is timber framed, with the first floor jettied. The ground floor is now a long room used as a bar, featuring a continuous mullioned window along one side, which has been partly renewed, and an old fireplace opening. Both the interior and exterior of the cottage have undergone significant restoration.

No. 1A Billet Street, No. 66 The County Hotel, the Brendon Bar, and No. 8 East Street form an important group with the listed buildings in Cheapside, Fore Street, and the Parade.