3&4 Church Street

History: Originally the stable range of the Royal Oak Hotel, built c1860, and oriented towards the hotel, but converted into shops c1930, facing the street. Originally intended to accommodate 6 units, it now houses 3 shops.

Exterior: The original construction is visible in the N gable end and to the rear: red brick with blue brick dressings and slate roof. The frontage to Church Street is rendered. Single storeyed, it comprises 10 regular bays articulated by pilasters with rosettes to capitals supporting a plain cornice band. The 3 entrance bays are enriched by rosette decoration in the moulded panel above the doorway; the windows which flank them are in arcaded bays, with blind painted fanlights radiating from low relief acanthus decoration, and stressed keys. The original arrangement in which splayed side doorways were recessed in the principle entrances still survives in Nos 4 and 5-6.

An excellently detailed early C20 commercial development which retains a high degree of integrity in the strong rhythm of its original design, and which forms part of a group with the Royal Oak Hotel and other buildings on Church Street.