Summary

Three bays of a formerly larger early-C16 house; the other part is 75 High Street (Grade II) . Its front was remodelled in the mid-C19, and the shop front installed in the early C21. The rear outshut was added in the C20.

Description

Three bays of a formerly larger early-C16 house; the other part is 75 High Street (Grade II). Its front was remodelled in the mid-C19, and the shop front installed in the early C21. The rear outshut was added in the C20.

MATERIALS: it appears to be constructed from coursed, squared, limestone rubble which is rendered, under roofs covered in plain clay tiles. There is a brick gable-end chimney stack.

PLAN: single-depth plan with the former great chamber on the first floor, and rear outshut; originally part of a larger dwelling.

EXTERIOR: two storeys with an attic, and three bays wide. The current (2021) shop front replaced one of the mid-C20. To the first floor are three horned, plate-glass sash windows beneath cambered heads. Above is a moulded cornice and C20 parapet. The two hipped dormer windows have three-over-three sash windows. There are blocked former openings to the north-east wall.

INTERIOR: the building retains three bays of the original early C16, five-bay roof that continues over the adjacent 75 High Street (Grade II). The roof comprises straight collars and tie beams, and alternate curved wind braces. To the former, first-floor great chamber is an enriched early-C17 plaster ceiling with a geometrical pattern of moulded ribs, foliate bosses, roses, and formal sprays of fruit and foliage, as well as an arabesque frieze. There is a stone three-centre arched fireplace with a double cyma moulding, moulded stops, and a herringbone brick back. To the left is a winder stair with stick balusters.

History

Built in the early C16 as a five-bay house. It later became the Bull’s Head Inn before being subdivided into Numbers 73 and 75 High Street. 73 High Street retains its early-C17 plaster ceiling (restored in about 1990) to the former great chamber on the first floor.

Reasons for Listing

73 High Street, previously part of a larger house, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* for the retention of a significant proportion of historic fabric including its early-C16 collar and tie-beam roof trusses with associated wind braces, together with a stone fireplace and winder stair;
* for the survival of early-C17 plasterwork.

Group value:

* with the attached Grade-II listed 75 High Street it historically formed a single, early-C16 house.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• 73, High Street at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17565180

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

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)