Summary
A C17 or earlier timber-framed building, refronted in the C19, and with a C20 shop front.
Reasons for Designation
24 High Street South is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural and historic interest:
* for its C17 origins;
* for its substantial surviving timber frame.
History
Dunstable town was historically focused upon the intersection of two ancient routes, the Neolithic Icknield Way, running from east to west, and the Roman Watling Street, running from north to south. The crossroad remains a dominant feature in topography of the town. Dunstable has Roman origins, known as Durocobrivis, centred on the crossroads, which appears to have been abandoned at the end of the Roman period. The town was later re-established in the early C12 by Henry I, centred on the royal lodge of Kingsbury and the Augustinian Priory founded in 1131, dissolved in 1540. A market was established in the wide streets and marketplace, where permanent buildings began to encroach to form Middle Row, possibly from the early C13 onwards. The town continued to prosper as a market town in the post-Medieval period, and also as a significant staging post for coaches travelling along Watling Street. The C19 saw the arrival of the railway, new municipal buildings, and the development of the backland with new terraced housing and small industrial premises, notably hat-making. The C20 saw the growth of the town as an engineering centre. Residential expansion continued apace, with associated provision for schools, churches, and other public buildings.
24 High Street South was built in the C17 or earlier and was refronted in the C19. It is visible upon late C19 mapping, as part of ‘Middle Row’ with extensions and outbuilding to rear. In the C20 a shop front was added. In 1976 the building was listed with the following description:"C19 front to earlier structure. Stucco, hipped tiled roof. 2 storeys, 2 first floor flush 3-light sash windows. Projecting modern shop front. Moulded cornice. Nos 24 to 30 (even) form a group"
In 1992 planning permission was granted for internal alterations to form separate units.
Details
A C17 or earlier timber-framed building, refronted in the C19, and with a C20 shop front.
MATERIALS: timber-framed with brick cladding and red plain tile roof covering.
PLAN: rectilinear, with a hipped range with the ridge parallel to the east (High Street South) elevation and a projecting shop front. To the rear (Middle Row) are double-pile gabled ranges and a projecting shopfront extension.
EXTERIOR: the building has two storeys. The High Street South elevation has a hipped roof and is brick, rendered at first floor level. There are two flush three-light sash windows at first floor level. Below, there is a projecting shop front to the ground floor with an offset, recessed door, with a tiled recess.
To the rear (Middle Row) elevation are a pair of gabled ranges with the gable ends towards Middle Row. The southern gable has a tall, brick chimney stack. Each gable end is rendered and white-washed. The left (north) gabled range has a large 20-light window. The right (southern) gable has a door with a 12-light window adjacent to it towards the south. There is a deep, projecting ground floor single-storey, flat-roofed range in brick laid in Flemish bond, with a central timber and glass door, and symmetrical, curved shop windows either side.
