90, 92 and 94 High Street (EHER 38353)

Concealed within this range are two medieval buildings; a warehouse and part of a house. The main block has a remarkable timber-frame of four narrow, equal bays and of a very wide span. It is possibly a purpose-built warehouse, and was referred to as such in 16th century property deeds. The narrower block to the north-west formed part of a larger building with Nos 86 (EHER 38350)& 88 (EHER 38351) and is timber-framed. The entire range is two storeys with plain tiled roofs.

September 1971. Grade II* listed. Nos 90, 92 and 94 are a 15th century timber framed and rendered warehouse with adjoining block. It is two storeys with plain tiled roofs. The building comprises two blocks with a wide-span main block and narrower-span block to the north-west, which are joined by a continuous front parapet. The ground floor has 20th century plate-glass shop fronts as three canted bays and with one 20th century entrance door. The main block has a remarkable timber-frame of four narrow, equal bays and of a very wide span. It is possibly a purpose-built warehouse, and was referred to as such in 16th century property deeds. The narrower block to the north-west formed part of a larger building with Nos 86 (EHER 38350) & 88 (EHER 38351) and is timber-framed with two cambered tie beams exposed on the first floor. That adjoining the main block has grooves for arch braces and was therefore 'open-framed'. The other, defining a square bay, has neither partition nor arch braces. The height to the wall-plate level here, is suggestive of a small open hall. <1> See photos <2>. Concealed within this range are two medieval buildings; a warehouse and part of a house; the ground storey and floors of the upper rooms are modern. The warehouse (25ft x 29.5ft) is an early oak frame with close studding and tension braces. The five closely set tie beams suggest a building design to carry great weight. There remain traces of original windows in the front wall. The unusual roof has tie beams at either end and in the middle which support crown posts up to the collar purlin, while the intermediate tiebeams have jowled crown post struts which clasp the collar purlin. The crown post braces may be a replacements. Scarf joints in the rear wall plate and collar purlin are simple suggesting a late 15th or 16th century date. The upper floor was internally partitioned in the 17th century. Evidence of wall painting survives on first floor. The house is separate from the warehouse, also built of oak in close studding. It retains a cross-quadrate crown post with four way bracing. The tie beam next to the warehouse has slots in its soffit for boards although no evidence of walling above. This suggests an open attic space and hence the house was built against an earlier building, since demolished. The cross quadrate crown post dates to 1350-1450. <3>