Compton House

Cadw's description

Location

Situated on corner of Kerry Street.

History

Town house and later shop, with mid-C18 red brick exterior, the top floor added or rebuilt c. 1900. Marked on 1833 map as owned with the Kerry Street row behind by the Rev M. Lloyd of Plas Trefaldwyn, and occupied by John & Charles Williams, with shop. Occupied in early C20 by the bicycle and motor shop of R.H. Bunner, then by Charles B. Williams, draper. The present shop-front is shown unchanged in photographs from when occupied by Williams and by Bunner. The interior has timber framing at the top floor that shows that the top floor has been raised. This is possibly indicative of earlier origins, but more probably shows the combination of timber-framing and Georgian brick typical of the town.

Exterior

End-terrace house and shop, red brick laid in Flemish bond, with bricks to a different shade on added top floor. Slate roof, hipped at angle with red brick stack to left end. Dentilled brick eaves. Three storeys, three narrow bays with c. 1900 top floor of three cambered headed 6-pane sashes with brick voussoirs. Remnant of a C18 band at sill level. First floor is original C18 brick with three cambered-headed 12-pane sashes with painted stone sills. 'Compton House' in painted letters above windows. Late C19 to early C20 full-width shop front with recessed entry between windows each of three long plate glass lights to front and one canted in to entry. Outer piers with big console brackets framing fascia and cornice. Glazed doors.
Right side, to Kerry Street, has brick plinth and two original raised bands. Ground floor has two blocked cambered-headed openings. Band above of two raised courses separated by a flush course is not complete, lower course ends before mid way. First floor has two cambered headed windows, to middle and right, each with an iron small-paned casement pair with iron opening light. Band at sill level under added top floor which has 4-pane cambered-headed sash to right.

Interior

Ground floor shop modernised, the stopped and chamfered beam mentioned in 1983 covered over. Narrow enclosed SE stair to first floor, which has a single principal NW room with two relatively thin stopped and chamfered beams on E-W axis. Old door into small NE room. Oak winding stair to attic with timber-framed internal wall visible along E side and timber-framed truss built-into partition to SW room, showing that roof has been raised. Heavy purlins. Two oak plank doors with iron strap hinges, one with cover strips. Window with engraved signature apparently 'R. Brapcton'.

Reason for designation

Included for its special historic interest as a substantial corner house of C18 to C19 date with Georgian character and detail, and a good shopfront of c1900.