132, HIGH STREET

Details

TEWKESBURY

SO8932 HIGH STREET 859-1/6/260 (East side) 04/03/52 No.132 (Formerly Listed as: HIGH STREET (East side) No.132 Gaiety Restaurant)

GV II*

Formerly known as: No.132 Wheatsheaf Inn HIGH STREET. House in row, with shops, formerly the Wheatsheaf Inn. Early C16, refronted mid-C17, with C18 extension; over the door lintel the initials J.V. may be for John Underhill (d 1719). Timber-frame with plaster panels, close-studded to front; brickwork, tile roofs, brick stacks. PLAN: A 4-storey narrow frontage property with decorative central gable, on 3 jettied stages, with side-entry to throughway and long 2-storey back wing, including a later extension or separate property. Frontage block of double-depth, single-room width plan with central stack towards right-hand party wall. EXTERIOR: street front, in 4 storeys with basement, has a canted bay with mullioned and transomd casements in 1:5:1-lights; at first and second floors this is continued full-width with 3-light casements. All the lights are small near-square, with plain glass. The ogee-shaped gable has ogee side wings, and all the framing and window members have sunk ovolo-mould edges. Ground floor has a 3-pane C19 shop front with 5-pane overlight, and on a stall riser; a blank panel to right, and to left, probably brought forward from its original location, a heavy moulded and stopped door frame with flat 4-centred head, decorative frieze and moulded cornice, on a pair of glazed doors. The gable has returned sides with framing, and there is a small brick stack on the front slope, left. The throughway has remains of framing including a heavy haunched post set back from the doorway, and showing the earlier position of front wall, with a jetty over. Doors lead from passage to shop and to rear wing, which includes various casements, including a large one at ground floor. The rear section is in brickwork with tiled roof to a central valley and twin hipped ends. In the end wall is a casement under segmental head under the valley, and a further narrow light to ground floor; the party wall has a wide casement to a segmental head at first floor. A cropped brick stack in the rear slope of the front building. INTERIOR: shop retains 2 walls of C17 panelling, and 2 chamfered beams; fireplace is concealed. To left a lobby gives to a tight wood spiral staircase with continuous circular newel, and separate stair descends to basement, which has stone flank walls at front, concrete floor and chamfered beams. Back section has brick floor and walls. At ground floor a 6-panelled door (from Stafford), leads to lofty rear room with series of beams on heavy posts. At front a large brick fireplace with brick hood. Beyond a further lofty room with series of very heavy close-set stopped-chamfer beams, which carry across the side passage, but with separate stops. Also a large reconstructed brick fireplace, with, adjoining party wall, evidence for a former tight spiral stair. In rear wall, set high, a narrow 12-pane light. First-floor front parlour has 4-compartment ceiling with chamfered beams, and brick chimney breast, with remains of early painting on the return; to right a built-in cupboard fronted with C17 panelling and doors, with grille above. The square-framed party walls have important remains of early C17 fresco painting, now covered; 3 panels have painted trompe-l'oeuil panelling. Very large jetty posts set in from front wall, and at rear of room an arched early C19 window with Gothick head; this was brought from a demolished property in Thornbury. Middle room includes large structural posts, and a length of C16 moulded beam. Rear unit is subdivided, but there is a longitudinal plaster moulded beam under the central valley. At second-floor level the staircase divides, and there are separate stairs to attic rooms. Front parlour includes heavy braced tie beams, cupboard by chimney breast with C17 doors, early 3-plank door, and small C19 grate in the front corner. This, with other rooms, has very wide early boards. Central room at second floor has plastered ceiling with plaster moulded beams to centre and all edges. Large casement to the throughway. Front attic has early roofing, including short king or crown post to high collar (obscured); a separate narrow room or store to lower slope beyond the raised gable, on S side. The attic to rear wing, with separate stair, includes an internal partition with boarding, and the floors, reputedly for mustard seed storage, were formerly covered with lime mortar. An exceptionally fine merchant's house, particularly notable for its magnificent C17 frontage and interior decorative schemes which would repay further investigation.

Listing NGR: SO8932032803

Legacy

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Legacy System number:

376842

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LBS

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