No 1 Watergate Street (Formerly Twist's Shoemaker's Shop)

No 1 Watergate Street, formerly known as Twist's Shoemaker's Shop, is a house that was built around 1830, possibly in two phases. The section facing Watergate Street is likely the earlier part, while the former shop facing High Street may have been added later, although it was already in use as a shop by 1840, as indicated on the Tithe Map.

The exterior features a three-storey, two-window range with a hipped slate roof and an axial stack on the original house facing Watergate Street. The northern slope of the roof extends as a catslide over the former shop, which is a two-storey range facing High Street. Both sections are rendered over brick, with slate roofs and brick stacks. The Watergate Street elevation includes a central doorway framed by an architrave with fluted pilasters, leading to a modern four-panelled door. To the right, there is a flush-framed 16-pane sash window, and to the left, a two-light casement window with a cambered head. The first floor has 16-pane sash windows, and similar windows are located just below the overhanging eaves.

The High Street elevation features an early 19th-century shop front on the left, with a small-paned cast iron bow window to the right of the entrance. This entrance includes a panelled door with an overlight, framed by an architrave with reeded pilasters and a Greek-key motif in the frieze. A cornice extends across the window. There is a similar window on the return elevation to Watergate Street. To the right of the shop front, another doorway has a panelled door with an overlight in a moulded architrave, accompanied by a 24-pane flush-framed sash window alongside and two 16-pane sash windows below the eaves.

The interior was not accessible during the inspection in September 1995. The building is noted for being a virtually unaltered example of an early 19th-century townhouse, featuring a shop front of exceptional quality, contributing positively to the townscape. The shop has recently been cement-faced and is located on a corner, with each side showcasing an elegant early 19th-century bow shop window, consisting of five panes across and four down, set in a Regency wood frame. The property is listed for its interesting shop fronts.