13 and 15 London Road (EHER 38407)

Nos 13 and 15 London Road were originally three identical 15th century timber framed houses, each comprising a small hall and parlour with crown post roofs. In the 17th century they became almshouses of Wentworths Charity and the conversion involved the removal of the parlour of the western house. At the same time the chimneys were inserted, as were the floors. By the 19th century, repair costs were so much that they were sold off for private housing in the 20th century. The parget plaster also dates from this period.

September 1971. Grade II listed. Three identical 15th century timber framed and rendered houses, now two dwellings. They have 17th and 20th century alterations, including 20th century pargetting. There is a continuous plain tile roof, and the houses are single storey with attics. The ground floor has two entrance doors and four sash windows with moulded surrounds. No.13 has a 20th century lean-to extension and No.15 has a flat-roofed lean-to extension. Internally there is a good 15th century timber frame and remnants of simple crown-post roof. This provided three identical houses, each with an open hall and one service room, all of one storey only. In the early 17th century an inglenook chimney stack with timber mantel beam and a floor with large stop-chamfered bridging joist and spine beams were inserted into No.15. No.13 had a floor inserted, of differing design. At this time a chimney stack was added to this, south-east, end. The north-west end of the terrace has been truncated, but a reused rafter at this end has a secret notched lap mortice of the 13th or 14th century. The houses are probably a speculative development. The offsetting of braces to allow for a door is a detail also used in the Vicarage of the Church of All Saints, Church Walk (EHER 38262). The three cottages are probably part of the holdings of Wentworth Charity (1634). <1> See photos <2>. Originally built in the 15th century as three small identical houses. In the 17th century they became almshouses of Wentworths Charity. By the 19th century, repair costs were so much that by the 20th century they were sold off for private housing. Originally the three were single storey, each comprising a small hall and a parlour. Built of oak and in close studding with tension braces. They had simple crown post roofs, which are fragmentary in No.15 and more complete in No.13. They may have originally been 'renters' or almshouses even before the Wentworth bequest. The parlour of the western house was removed following their conversion to almshouses. A halved and bridled scarf joint survives in the top plate. In 17th century the chimneys were inserted, as were the floors, the crown post roof modified to a side purlin and some of the crosswalls cut away. <3>