Description

1. 1260 BUTTER MARKET (South Side)

No 30 (The Ancient House) TM 1644 NW 1/30 19.12.51.

I GV

2. Also known as Sparrows House, after the family which was responsible for its magnificent early C17 pargetting. It was built originally in tile C15 and re-adapted or rebuilt in 1567 by George Copping, who sold it a few years later to the Sparrow family, in whose possession it remained for over 200 years. It is a very fine building, well preserved, with much of its original detail intact. A timber-framed and plastered house. 2 storeys and attics with a jettied upper storey. There are 4 fine rounded bay windows on the north front and one on the west front on St Stephen's Lane, with leaded lights and arched transoms in the centre lights. The panels below the bays have pargetted figures representing America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Between the 1st storey bays there are pilasters on pedestals with more decorative pargetting. The centre panel has a coat of arms. The ground storey has continuous windows (C20) between the carved shafts which support the brackets of the projecting 1st storey. A timber-framed and plastered wing, extends south in St Stephen's Lane. 2 storeys with a jettied upper storey with a moulded bressumer. Part of the 1st storey has exposed timber framing. 3 window range, (2 casements with leaded lights and one double-hung sash with glazing bars. There is a small courtyard at the rear with a jettied upper storey with exposed timber-framing with ornamental bracing and continuous mullioned and transomed windows with leaded lights. Roof tiled, with 4 large gabled dormers on the north front on St Stephen's Lane, with pargetting in the gables, and a heavy projecting eaves cornice. The interior is also very fine with ornamental ceilings and a fine staircase with twisted and moulded balusters. The 1st storey has a great room 46 ft long with a panelled ceiling with heavy plaster ornamentation. There is also some panelling and an original fireplace. ANM.

Nos 18 to 30 (even) form a group with Nos 21 to 41 (odd).

Listing NGR: TM1638144545

External Links

• Ancient House at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q4752862

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

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)