Description

WARE TOWN

TL3414SE HIGH STREET
829-1/9/87 (South side)
08/05/50 Nos.21 AND 23

GV II

One building, inn range, now commercial premises. C17,
heightened and refronted early C18, C19 and C20 alterations.
Timber fronted, stucco front, concrete plain tiled roof with
modillioned cornice.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys, with plat bands at floor levels, 8 bays,
8 sash windows, all flush set with exposed boxes and moulded
architraves. First floor to No.21 (first 4 from left) are C19
with divided glazing and horns to upper sashes. Those to
second floor, and of No.23, first 4 from right, retain
small-paned glazing. One second floor window altered to
casement. No.21 has rustication at left, and above centre of
ground floor carriageway indicating subdivision into 2
properties in C18. Central elliptically arched carriageway
with panelled pilasters and spandrels, moulded archivolt, and
keyblock. Twin doors, flush panelled with wicket door in left
hand leaf, ramped moulded top rails, above which are plain
stiles and rails, originally with open panels between, beneath
elliptical heads following profile of arch.
To left is entrance to No.21, six stone steps up to street,
with C19 ornamental scrollwork railings. Moulded architrave
with head interrupted by projecting voussoirs and keystone.
Rusticated outer surround with pediment containing early C19
Sun Alliance fire insurance plate. Ground floor of No.21 has
modern bow fronted display window subdivided by glazing bars,
between modern pilasters, with fascia above. To right of
carriageway No.23 has modern timber-framed display window.
Entry to rear yard through carriageway which has plastered
sides above protective boarding. 3 and 2 storey outshoot to
No.21, timber-framed, plastered, with flush set sash and
casement windows, C19 extension with jettied first floor. Tall
red brick chimneystacks. No.23 has long C19 yellow brick
outshoot, with plat band and brick dentil cornice, with
small-paned casement windows and concrete pantiled roof.
INTERIOR of No.21 opened out on ground floor with exposed C17
brickwork, partly rebuilt, of central chimney. On first floor
the front rooms have early C18 moulded cornices, with
modillions in the left hand room; the rear room has an early
C18 moulded dado and a fireplace with a shouldered architrave
surround and a raised moulded shelf. The staircase from first
to second floors is an early C18 type, open well with newels,
closed moulded string, moulded handrails, and column-pattern
balusters. Part of a similar stair above first floor of No.23.
Queen strut roof across front block, with halved pegged
rafters. A portion of C17 roof remains immediately to the rear
of No.23 indicating that there was originally a gabled roof
facing the street frontage, prior to the early C18 rebuilding.
The carriageway entrance, rear courtyard, and position of the
C18 staircases, originally with direct entry from the rear
yard, indicate an historic inn site, but the identity has not
been discovered.
(Ware 25" to 1 Mile. Surveyed by the Ordnance Survey
Department: 1851-; Forrester H: Timber Framed Buildings in
Hertford and Ware: Hitchin: 1964-: 45-6).

Listing NGR: TL3591214248

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26565010

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.

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