Mid 19th century outbuilding to the rear of 112 High Street (EHER 82062)

A brick-built three storey outbuilding to the rear of 112 High Street (EHER 38357) which was erected in the mid 19th century. It was purpose-built to serve the business on the High Street and was probably used to air dry bacon or store cheese. In the 1970s it was converted to a sharpening shop.

July 2018. Heritage assessment. The building was first erected in the mid 19th century and is made from London Stock bricks whose popularity peaked in the 1840s. The building is of small footprint, only 8ft 6in x 12ft 10in and is three storeys high. Inside was a staircase against the south-west wall described as a ladder. No evidence remains of the original floors except for the timber strakes in the walls and the gaps in the hard lime render to show their depth. The building is quite unusual being purpose built to serve the business on the High Street as a food store. Its most likely use was to air dry bacon and possibly to store cheese for the grocery business. In the 1970s Ginn notes that it became the Sharping Shop – a spare time venture of a local schoolmaster. It was small business sharpening knives, mower blades etc. <1>