No. 17 High Street

Summary

No. 17 High Street, a multi-phase building; now a shop with accommodation above, originating from the C15, with later extension and alteration.

Reasons for Designation

No. 17 High Street is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: in its simple, vernacular character and retention of a significant proportion of its timber frame;
* Early date: originating in the C15 it is one of the earliest buildings in the town;
* Historic interest: it is a good example of the development of the urban vernacular style of the town centre, and its historic development is legible through its surviving fabric;
* Group value: it has strong group value with other nearby listed buildings.

History

Bromyard is a small market town that was first recorded in circa 840. No. 17 High Street is situated on one of the principal thoroughfares in the town which was known as Novus Vicus in the late C13 and recorded as Newe Streate in 1575. The street appears to have been fully built up by the early C17, though some of the plots have been re-developed since that time.

No. 17 High Street is likely to have origins in the C15, based on stylistic details of the timber framing. It was originally jettied and was refronted in brick; probably in the late-C18 or early C19, at the same time as the two-storey rear range was added. The bow window and front door are late-C20 replacements.

Details

MATERIALS: The main structure of the building is a timber frame. The principal façade is a refronting in brick and the rear elevations are a combination of rough stone and brick. It has a slate roof and brick chimney stacks.

PLAN: The single-bay, three-storey main range of the building is orientated parallel with the High Street, from south-east to north-west. To the rear of the main range is a two-storey extension orientated perpendicularly.

EXTERIOR: The road-facing elevation is painted brick. At ground-floor level there is a large bow window with eight fixed lights and narrow glazing bars. The front door is to the right, has a simple moulded door case, and is glazed with eight lights. Both are late-C20 replacements. At first-floor level there is a two-over-two hornless sash and on a the second floor a one-over-one casement. Both windows have flat-arched brick lintels and projecting cills. There is a parapet with stone coping hiding an inserted gable on the roof. The rear elevation of the primary range is rough stone. The rear extension is painted brick and has two sashes in recessed openings.

INTERIOR: The ground floor of the main range is now one large room with C15 timber framing throughout. There is evidence of the jettied front and the subsequent refronting; the original back wall of the building is apparent and there are disused mortice holes. The beams are particularly substantial and have wide chamfers. The upper floors of the building are accessed via a first-floor entrance to the rear. These were not inspected, but documentary evidence shows they contain visible C15 timber framing and that the rear leaf of the roof is intact.

Sources

Books and journals
James, D Insight Historic Buildings Research, An Analysis of the Historic Fabric of Fifty Buildings in the Central Area of Bromyard, Herefordshire, (2009)

Websites
An Archaeological Assessment of Bromyard - The Central Marches Historic Towns Survey 1992-6 (2005), accessed from http://ads.ahds.ac. uk/catalogue/projArch/EUS/marches_eus_2005/downloads.cfm?county=herefordshire&area=bromyard&CFID=1543698&CFTOKEN=53188440

End of official list entry

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