21 23, HIGH STREET

Details

WARE TOWN

TL3414SE HIGH STREET 829-1/9/87 (South side) 08/05/50 Nos.21 AND 23

GV II

One building, inn range, now commercial premises. C17, heightened and refronted early C18, C19 and C20 alterations. Timber fronted, stucco front, concrete plain tiled roof with modillioned cornice. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys, with plat bands at floor levels, 8 bays, 8 sash windows, all flush set with exposed boxes and moulded architraves. First floor to No.21 (first 4 from left) are C19 with divided glazing and horns to upper sashes. Those to second floor, and of No.23, first 4 from right, retain small-paned glazing. One second floor window altered to casement. No.21 has rustication at left, and above centre of ground floor carriageway indicating subdivision into 2 properties in C18. Central elliptically arched carriageway with panelled pilasters and spandrels, moulded archivolt, and keyblock. Twin doors, flush panelled with wicket door in left hand leaf, ramped moulded top rails, above which are plain stiles and rails, originally with open panels between, beneath elliptical heads following profile of arch. To left is entrance to No.21, six stone steps up to street, with C19 ornamental scrollwork railings. Moulded architrave with head interrupted by projecting voussoirs and keystone. Rusticated outer surround with pediment containing early C19 Sun Alliance fire insurance plate. Ground floor of No.21 has modern bow fronted display window subdivided by glazing bars, between modern pilasters, with fascia above. To right of carriageway No.23 has modern timber-framed display window. Entry to rear yard through carriageway which has plastered sides above protective boarding. 3 and 2 storey outshoot to No.21, timber-framed, plastered, with flush set sash and casement windows, C19 extension with jettied first floor. Tall red brick chimneystacks. No.23 has long C19 yellow brick outshoot, with plat band and brick dentil cornice, with small-paned casement windows and concrete pantiled roof. INTERIOR of No.21 opened out on ground floor with exposed C17 brickwork, partly rebuilt, of central chimney. On first floor the front rooms have early C18 moulded cornices, with modillions in the left hand room; the rear room has an early C18 moulded dado and a fireplace with a shouldered architrave surround and a raised moulded shelf. The staircase from first to second floors is an early C18 type, open well with newels, closed moulded string, moulded handrails, and column-pattern balusters. Part of a similar stair above first floor of No.23. Queen strut roof across front block, with halved pegged rafters. A portion of C17 roof remains immediately to the rear of No.23 indicating that there was originally a gabled roof facing the street frontage, prior to the early C18 rebuilding. The carriageway entrance, rear courtyard, and position of the C18 staircases, originally with direct entry from the rear yard, indicate an historic inn site, but the identity has not been discovered. (Ware 25" to 1 Mile. Surveyed by the Ordnance Survey Department: 1851-; Forrester H: Timber Framed Buildings in Hertford and Ware: Hitchin: 1964-: 45-6).

Listing NGR: TL3591214248

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

412324

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Forrester, H, Timber Framed Buildings in Hertford and Ware, (1964), 45-6

End of official list entry

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