13 and 13A High Street (EHER 38316)

A 15th and 17th century timber framed and rendered building, now a shop, house and restaurant. The roofs are covered in plain tile. The building is on a very complex plan, consisting of a slightly curving front range which fronts High Street and ends on Coach Lane with a hipped corner.

September 1971. Grade I Ilisted. A 15th and 17th century timber framed and rendered building, now a shop, house and restaurant. The roofs are covered in plain tile. The building is on a very complex plan, consisting of a slightly curving front range which fronts High Street and ends on Coach Lane with a hipped corner. Behind this are two long gable-roofed ranges, the north-west of which has a catslide extension. The south-west flanks of these blocks have a series of two large and one small gabled blocks projecting at right-angles. The main range is two storey and the frontage is ashlar rendered. It has two two-storey canted bay windows. The ground floor has two 20th century timber, varnished and glazed, entrance doors with moulded painted surrounds, both slightly recessed. The north-east elevation is also ashlared rendered and towards the north-west end of this elevation is an open-pedimented early 19th century doorcase with decorative console brackets on thin panelled pilasters, a moulded architrave and a contemporary six-panel door. Internally, the front range is substantially composed of a two-bay timber-frame, which was probably formerly jettied to street. It shows evidence that the north-east frame was originally the outer wall. This is a relatively narrow structure and may also have been jettied to the rear. At the south-west end this block abuts and encroaches into No.11 (EHER 38314) which seems to be a three-storey gatehouse tower of contemporary build. The north-eastern block is a former cross-wing which was originally jettied towards the north-west. This 15th century structure of two unequal bays, was gabled to the front and rear. Remains of diamond-mullioned windows survive on its front and flank together with later inserted ovolo-mullioned windows with iron security bars. Within this structure is some reused 17th century panelling and part of a fluted frieze. On the inside of the south-west wall traces of fleur-de-lys wall paintings were uncovered during recent restoration, but these are again concealed. Attached by pegs to the outer south-west flank of this block is the truncated part of an elaborate bay of mid 16th century inserted flooring with moulded bridging joists, spine beam and edge beams. This seems to be an inserted floor into the former structure at right-angles and vestigial remains of its roof survive above. Blocked diamond-mullioned windows in both flanks suggest that the cross-wing was originally free-standing. Between the front range and the north-east block is a mid 17th century range with A-frame roof largely of second-hand timbers and main trusses (reused) with very deep collars. A floor in this part has good quality spine beams and joists partly exposed. The remainder of the complex also seems 17th century with much reused timber and one ovolo-mullioned window exposed on 1st floor. It seems probable that this complex formed part of a substantial landholding which could well have occupied the semi-circular area of land now bounded by the High Street, Gate Street and Silver Street. The Baude family seemed to have owned this land in the 13th and 14th century. <1> See photos <2>. No. 13 and 13A, High Street, which face onto the market-place appear to have been a public building of 15th century date. No.11 may have been a three-storey gatehouse allowing access to the rear of the complex. <3> Fronting the High Street No.13 is a two-storey two-bay 15th century building of narrow span, probably jettied to the street and with a cross quadrate crown post. The building retains evidence of an arched head window on the first floor, and could be a market related building. To the rear, 13A is a two-storey two-bay 16th century building resembling a crosswing with jetty to the rear. It appears to have had windows in both flank walls and was free-standing. Lodged onto its SW flank is a 16th century inserted floor with moulded bridging joist. Traces of Fleur-de-lys wall painting were revealed, now recovered. <4>