Description

MORETONHAMPSTEAD FORE STREET (south side)
SX 7586
Moretonhampstead
8/150 No. 4
-
- II

House, formerly partly used as shop premises. C16 or early C17, largely rebuilt in
early C19, and with probably late C17 or early C18 rear wing. Roughly plastered
light scantling timber frame rear wing partly refaced in plastered brick. Asbestos
slate roof; front range has roof with gabled ends abutting adjoining houses; rear
wing has gable end to Back Lane at rear. Brick chimney shafts to left-hand end of
front range, and at junction of rear wing and main range.
Plan: front range is possibly the lower end of a 3-room plan house (No. 6 to left
being the higher end) which has been reduced to one room of the original plan, and
largely rebuilt in early C19, and with shop inserted into the ground storey in
circa late C19. The late C17/early C18 wing at rear was originally a 1-room plan
cottage of 2 storeys and attic, with a gabled front facing Back Lane at rear, and a
fireplace at the rear of each room and a newel stair in the rear right-hand corner
(as soon from Back Lane). In the angle with the front range and rear cottage a 1-
room plan addition of uncertain date, possibly C18.
Fore Street elevation: 3 storeys, 1-window range. Ground floor late C19 double-
fronted shop with fascia and cornice, plate glass windows and C20 central door. 1
early C19 sash window with glazing bars to first and second floors, 16 panes to
first floor, 12 panes to second floor, both with crown glass.
Back Lane elevation to rear: 2 storeys and attic, 1 window gabled front; ground
floor small C20 plate glass window and integral door to right with wooden fascia
board over, probably formerly a shop; first floor C20 2-light casement; attic C19
2-light casement with glazing both in cambered arch openings. To left a 2 storey
1-bay addition with C20 casements and C20 door to left.
Interior: front range has chamfered cross beam with hollow step stops, and 1
original roof truss at right-hand end survives, which has morticed apex and
threaded for ridge piece and purlins, blackened but probably not smoke-blackened.
The formerly separate cottage now rear wing has probably original roof with 2
trusses, the principals pegged to halved curved wall posts, and trenched purlins.
Wooden newel stairs in rear corner with C18 2-panel doors at top and bottom of each
flight. Blocked fireplace on back wall of each storey. Ceilings plastered and
interior of rear wing little altered.
The rear wing is a rare survival of a small 1-room plan, 3-storey town house, with
a completely intact internal plan.

Listing NGR: SX7538486071

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26389441

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

• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)