40 Henblas Street

The building at 40 Henblas Street is a late 17th-century range, originally built in a Jacobean style, with later 19th-century additions and alterations. The High Street elevation is constructed from roughly coursed and squared stone, topped with a slate roof. The building is arranged symmetrically over two storeys, with a prominent three-window entrance range projecting forward, flanked by lower single-window ranges containing shops. The central bay has a gabled projection with a segmentally arched entrance. Above the entrance is a corbelled mullioned and transomed oriel window with leaded lights, a strapwork parapet, and a shaped gable with finials. The original full-height segmental openings to either side of the central gable have been adapted into windows for the adjacent shops. Above these are three-light mullioned and transomed windows with leaded glazing, pedimented heads, and shaped gablets breaking the eaves line. The lower side ranges are slightly recessed and flanked by outer pilasters topped with urn finials. Number 11 has a late 19th-century front with ornate, panelled pilasters.

A rear entrance to the market hall, dating from approximately 1879-80, is a sympathetic extension mirroring the design of the General Market entrance on the opposite side of the street. The entrance features a segmentally arched opening with renewed doors and glazed tympanum. Stone shafts with foliate capitals support the arch, which has a stone key carved as a rams’ head. Stepped terracotta corbelling supports a steep, stone-coped gable above. A two-storey shop building, dated 1880, projects from the left side of this entrance. The entrance is emphasized by angled corner detailing and panelled pilasters framing the recessed doorway and the shop windows. Blind brickwork is visible in the angled upper storey, between pilasters, with a stone panel bearing the date acting as a cornice. A heavy cast iron scrolled lantern is attached to the wall. Paired round-headed windows have a central stone shaft, terracotta rosettes, and a continuous hood mould on either side. A terracotta corbel table runs between the outer pilasters. The roof is hipped with slate and lead finials.

Inside the market hall, two permanent stalls or shops flank the entrance from the High Street, both exhibiting late 19th-century detailing. The hall itself is an eight-bay structure featuring timber trusses supported by cast iron columns with wrought iron braces, creating aisles.