Description

SJ9223SW
590-1/10/47
16/01/51

STAFFORD
GREENGATE STREET
(West side)
Nos.47, 48 AND 49
High House (No.49)

GV
II*

House, now museum and shops. 1595, for John Dorrington;
extensively restored 1976-86 by FWB Charles.
MATERIALS: timber-frame; tile roof with stone and brick stack.
PLAN: E-plan.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys with attic; symmetrical 5-window range;
each upper floor is jettied on console brackets. Ground floor
has two C20 shopfronts on ashlar plinth; central porch is
reinstated, on ashlar plinth and with open front and side
openings. Upper floors have ovolo-mullioned and transomed
windows, mostly reinstated; all have leaded glazing. 1st floor
has central oriel with 2+2-light bowed window with king
mullion and reinstated balustrade with square balusters,
flanking 3-light windows and end 2+1+2-light windows with king
mullions; 2nd floor has central 2+1+2-light window, flanking
2-light windows and end 1+2+1-light canted oriels; attic has
four 5-light windows with 3 upper lights under gables.
Timber-framing has mostly square panels with decorative ogee
braces, cusping etc. Right return has 2 canted oriels flanking
2-light window to ground, 1st and 2nd floors; 3 gabled windows
to attic. Rear has 2 gabled wings, that to left with
asymmetrical gable, flanking gabled stair wing.
INTERIOR: 2 ashlar fireplaces to ground floor with Tudor
arches and damaged friezes over; stop-chamfered beams;
open-well stair has turned balusters, stop-chamfered square
newels with finials and pendants and moulded handrails. 1st
floor landing has mid C18 wallpaper in Gothick style; corridor
has rectangular flush panelling repainted in original style;
ovolo-moulded beams and timber-framed partition walls; 2
ashlar fireplaces; rear room has surviving pieces of mid C18
wallpaper; room to left end has C20 wallpaper reproducing
design of pieces discovered 2nd floor similar. Attic has 2
roof trusses with timber-framed infill flanking stone stack.
HISTORY: the house is believed to be the largest timber-framed
town house in England; Charles I and Prince Rupert stayed here
in 1642; Izaak Walton, 1593-1683, writer, lived here for many
years.
(Buildings of England: Pevsner N and Nairn J: Staffordshire:
London: 1974-: 245; Shell Guides: Thorold H: Staffordshire:
London: 1978-: 152; Stafford Borough Council: Ancient High
House: Tour: 1986-; Lambert B: The Preservation of the Ancient
High House: Stafford: 1986-).

Listing NGR: SJ9219923201

Selected Sources

• Lambert, B , The Preservation of the Ancient High House, (1986)
• Lambert, B , The Preservation of the Ancient High House, (1986)
• Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Staffordshire, (1974), 245
• Thorold, H, 'Shell County Guides' in Staffordshire, (1978), 152

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  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
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• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy