7 Church Street

Location

Situated on west side of Church Street, in a prominent position on approach to the church.

History

Probably built as a 3-unit medieval hall-house, perhaps in the early C16, and remodelled in the later C17 with the insertion of an upper storey; minor subsequent alterations. Presently used as shop and wine bar. Timber framed, the original structure cruck framed, with box-framed modifications.

Exterior

Stuccoed over the timber framing externally and with slate roof. 2-storeyed, hall and cross wing plan, the right hand wing in seperate occupation at ground floor. 3 parallel gables, with C20 shop fronts and casement windows of 3 and 4 lights in the gables above (an earlier wood mullioned window in right hand gable is visible internally). Gables are jettied above upper windows, and have bargeboards with finials.

Interior

4 pairs of cruck at least partially visible in end walls, and in the divisions between hall range and cross wings. Of these, 3 have steeply cambered collars with short king posts. Arch bracing to collar in one of central trusses. The original form of the building would seem to have been a full length open hall, the roof-line subsequently altered, and the building remodelled with the construction of 3 parallel gabled ranges over hall and cross wings: these are framed with square panelling, and with queen post and strut timbering in gable apexes. Upper floor probably inserted at time of this remodelling, with chamfered spine beam in hall range. A panel dated 1681 with initials T. over I. A. in the north gable wall may refer to the insertion of the floor and the construction of the cross gables.

Reason for designation

An exceptional timber framed building surviving in an urban location close to Saint Giles Churchyard.