Description

FORE STREET
1.
5411
(North West Side)
No 68
(Formerly listed as
Ushers Brewery Offices)
ST 8558 4,5/76 29,12.50.
I GV

2.
Before 1723 for Nathaniel Houlton, set back from No 67. A fine example of Vernacular
Baroque. 2 storeys and attic, Ashlar on moulded plinth. Rusticated corner piers.
Double break to centre bay flanked by 2 windows on each side. Glazing bar sash
windows. Moulded cornice string at 1st floor level. Bold moulded cornice with
double break forward over central bay. The bed moulds of cornice broken forward
over side windows. Hipped stone tile roof. 3 dormers with moulded heads, the
central segmental headed. The central bay has 8-panel central door with segmental
headed fanlight of oval and curved pattern in rusticated jambs with architrave
and mask keystone to head, in doorcase of engaged Doric columns and entablature,
flanked by narrow semi-circular headed windows with architraves and mask keystones
to heads. The door approached by 2 semi-circular steps. 2 other windows. The
1st floor has central window flanked by 2 narrow windows, repeating desgin of ground
floor, but central window has surround of engage Corinthian columns and entablature.
All windows have moulded cills and aprons. The return front to left hand has same
general design and 3 windows. At the back and set in can be seen part of an older
house - 2 lower storeys with stone tile roof. 2 glazing bar sash windows 1st floor
with continuous label above. Blocked oculi at rear. Tall chimney at rear, set
in gable. Interior wall preserved. Fine entrance hall with tall panelled door
to left and right having segmental heads; ramped dado. Good oak staircase with
3 turned balusters per tread and carved string, panelled and ramped dado. The
1st floor landing also has panelled doors and dado. Good moulded cornices retained
in some of the rooms.

Nos 65 to 68 (consec), Nos 70 to 73 (consec), railings and gates to Nos 68 and
70, dwarf stone wall to No 72, No 64 (Lloyds Bank) and Usher's Brewery Corner Block,
form an outstanding group with No 8 and premises occupied by K.J. Lestor to south
west of No 8 Wicker Hill.

Listing NGR: ST8549758059

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17529189

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback