83, 85, 87 and 89 High Street (EHER 34217)

16th century row of four timber framed houses, with later additions.

Listed building description A 16th century row of four timber framed houses, with later alterations and additions including 18th and 19th century facades. The timber frame was dated to the early 16th century by C.A. Hewitt. It is timber framed, part plaster, part red brick faced with a red plain tiled roof. It is two stories with attics. The facade of the cottages now has three bays with pilasters between and Parapet to left and central bays. The left bay, No. 83 has a simple surround and 20th century door. The central bay, No. 85, has 18th century six panelled door, fluted pilasters, triglyphs to frieze, dentilled soffits to moulded pediment. The right bay, Nos. 87 and 89 has two central 20th century doors. Interior features visible in No. 83 include large chamfered bridging joists, some top plates and side girts visible. The chimney stack to left is 18th century and there is a fireplace with iron soffit tie. The facade of this house was incorporated with that of No. 85 during 18th century. No. 85 has 17th to 18th century panelling in the hall, front ground and first floor rooms. There is a corner cupboard with three moulded shelves, original window seats, moulded cornice and boxed-in moulded bridging joist to ground floor. This room now has a 20th century fireplace but there is a large chimney stack, probably originally external. To the rear of the hall is the probably original stair turret with open well staircase, moulded string, heavy turned balusters, moulded handrail and dado panelling. There are horizontally boarded walls to attic staircase and vertically boarded attic doors with ironmongery. The panelled front bedroom has moulded cornice, panelled doors with original ironmongery, one with cockshead hinges. Both this room and ground floor room have circular moulded hooks to walls and a fine 18th century cast iron hob grate. Doors in this room at one time led into No. 85 but there was no inspection of this or No. 87 at time of re-survey. <1> <2>