6. AYLESBURY.
(O.S. 6 in. xxviii. S.E.)
Ecclesiastical
(1). Parish Church of St. Mary, stands
near the middle of the town, and is built of
squared rubble, roughly coursed, and partly
re-faced with ashlar; the dressings are of stone.
The roofs are covered with lead. There was
probably a 12th-century church on the site, but
it appears to have been entirely re-built in the
first half of the 13th century. The plan is
cruciform. The Chancel, Central Tower, and
Transepts, each with a small Chapel on the E.
side, the Nave, and the North and South Aisles
are of the 13th century; there was possibly a
S. porch of that date. In the 14th century the
Lady Chapel was built S. of the S. transeptal
chapel, and the aisles were extended laterally
to form Chapels. In the 15th century the
two-storeyed North Vestry was added N.
of the N. transeptal chapel, and the South
Porch was re-built, the whole building, except
the chancel, re-roofed, and the clearstorey
added. Early in the 19th century the church
was in a dangerous condition, from the failure
of the foundations, and in 1850 a complete
restoration was carried out by Sir Gilbert Scott.
The building, with its massive central tower,
is of fine proportions. Among the fittings the
late 12th-century font is especially noteworthy,
and has given a name to a type known as the
'Aylesbury' fonts (see Plate, p. xxvii.).

Aylesbury, Parish Church of St. Mary
Architectural Description—The Chancel
(41½ ft. by 25½ ft.) has a modern E. window. In
the N. wall are three early 13th-century lancets,
set in the alternate bays of an internal arcade
with pointed moulded arches and shafted jambs
which have moulded capitals and bases, all considerably restored; below the arcade is a 13th-
century string-course, continued to the modern
arch of the organ-chamber, and finished with a
modern boss; a second string-course of the 13th
century continues the label from the spring of
the arches to the door of the former rood-loft on
the W.; partly under the W. arch of the arcade
is a 15th-century doorway, with moulded jambs
and four-centred head; it opens into a diagonal
passage leading to the organ chamber, in which
was formerly the staircase to the rood-loft; over
the modern arch opening into the organ-chamber, is the upper doorway of the rood-loft, with
chamfered jambs and head. The S. wall was
re-built in 1850 to match the N. wall; a large
blocked archway has a modern doorway in it,
opening into the S. transeptal chapel. The
Central Tower (23½ ft. by 18½ ft.) is of three
stages, and has diagonal buttresses above
the ground stage, a N.E. stair-turret, an embattled parapet, with carved traceried panels,
and a lead lantern and spire. Externally the
tower has been almost entirely restored and
re-faced, but the original design is said to
have been followed; the 15th-century embattled
parapet of the turret retains some original gargoyles, but has been otherwise restored; the
parapet of the tower was also of the 15th century, but has been entirely renewed; the lantern
and spire were copied from the former 17th-century design. On the ground stage the four
arches which support the superstructure are
two-centred and of two chamfered orders, originally of the 13th century, re-built in 1850,
some of the old voussoirs being re-used; the
shafted piers are modern. The tower stairs
start from the W. wall of the N. transept (see
below), cross to the N.W. pier of the tower,
and continue to the triforium level; the lower
part of the stairs was altered, apparently in the
15th century, when heavy abutments, since removed, were built to counteract the weakness
of the piers; at the triforium level the stairs
pass from the N.W. to the N.E. angle; the
inner walls are pierced with an arcade, of late
13th-century date, considerably restored, of
two bays in each wall, each bay having a two-centred chamfered arch with a diamond-shaped
piercing in the spandrel, supported by engaged
shafts, with moulded capitals and bases, and
sub-divided by two smaller pointed arches,
resting in the centre on a single shaft; the
triforium is lighted by two windows on the
N. and two on the S., each of two narrow
lancet lights with cusped heads, completely
restored. The bell-chamber is lighted by two
large lancet windows in each wall; the external stonework is modern, but the rear arches
are of late 13th-century date, and of two chamfered orders, which are not concentric; the
inner order is continuous, and the outer order
has on one side of each window an attached
shaft with moulded capital, while the pier
between the windows is without shafts. Above
the bell-chamber, in the N.E. turret, is a
blocked doorway, which possibly marks the
original height of the staircase and tower before
the 15th-century parapet was built; the wall
sets back outside, leaving four external piers at
the angles, probably intended as the base of a
roof or spire. The North Transept (32 ft. by
20½ ft.) has, in the E. wall, opening into the
organ-chamber, an arch with shafts, mouldings, and dog-tooth ornament of 13th-century
character, almost entirely restored, but retaining a few original stones; a modern doorway
opens into the N. vestry. In the N. wall is a
large window of five lights and tracery in a
two-centred head; the moulded arch and jambs
are of the 14th century; the mullions and
tracery are modern: below the window is a
moulded 13th-century string-course. In the
W. wall, above the string-course, is a 15th-century window of three cinque-foiled lights and
tracery in a four-centred head: S. of the window is the 15th-century doorway of the tower
staircase; it has moulded jambs with elaborate
stops and a moulded two-centred arch with
carved spandrels under a square head, and a
moulded label which has return stops: S. of the
doorway is a two-centred arch of two moulded
orders, opening into the N. aisle chapel; the
elaborate 13th-century moulding and ornament, similar to the arch in the E. wall, and
the jambs, each with five clustered shafts having bell capitals, have been much restored:
above this the wall has been widened towards
the W. by a rough chamfered arch to form a
passage for the tower stairs, which cross to the
N.W. pier of the tower. The clearstorey windows are of late 15th or early 16th-century
date, and are each of two cinque-foiled lights in
a flat four-centred head. The North Transeptal
Chapel (17½ ft. by 11 ft.), now the organ-chamber, has a modern E. window. In the N.
wall, opening into the vestry, is an original
doorway with plain square jambs and an oak
lintel; the N. face of the wall has a
chamfered plinth, showing that it was originally
external. The North Vestry (12 ft. by 11½ ft.)
has, on the ground floor, in the N. and E. walls,
small rectangular single lights, restored outside, but with original iron bars. In the E.
wall, at the S. end, is a modern doorway. On
the first floor, in the W. corner of the N. wall,
is an original arched fireplace; in the middle of
the wall is a window of two lancet lights, set in
a two-centred head, the spandrel incised with
flower ornament; it is apparently of the 13th
century, removed from some other part of the
building; the stonework below the spring of the
arch is modern. In the S. wall is a recess,
which may have been the original doorway,
possibly opening from the rood-stairs, or from
a gallery in the N. transeptal chapel; the room
is now approached only by a ladder and trapdoor. The South Transept (31 ft. by 21 ft.)
has, in the E. wall, an arch opening into the
S. transeptal chapel, similar to the 13th-century arches in the N. transept, and considerably
restored; it was blocked in the 15th century to
strengthen the abutments of the tower; in the
blocking wall is a 15th-century window of three
trefoiled lights with sunk spandrels under a
square head; it was originally glazed, but the
groove for glass has been filled up: S. of this
window, opening into the Lady chapel, is
an early 14th-century double arch, of two
separate chamfered orders resting on engaged
shafts with moulded capitals and bases; it
was formerly bricked up, and has been much
restored. In the S. wall is a modern copy of
the 15th-century S. doorway, with a heavily
moulded four-centred arch, and having, externally, traceried spandrels, a series of cusped
panels above the arch, and on each side a
niche with an image, all set in a moulded
square frame; above the doorway is a large
window of five lights and tracery under
a square head, of 15th-century style, entirely restored. On the S. and W. walls is a
13th-century string-course. Only the W. wall
has clearstorey windows, which are similar to
those in the N. transept, but less restored; the
two arches opening into the S. aisle chapel are
modern restorations, similar to the arches in
the N. transept. The South Transeptal Chapel
(12 ft. by 10½ ft.) has a modern E. window. In
the S. wall, opening into the Lady chapel, is
an arch of two chamfered orders, with square
responds, of early 14th-century date, but
much restored. The Lady Chapel (25 ft. by
16 ft.) has an E. window of three trefoiled
lights and tracery in a two-centred head, entirely restored, except the moulded rear arch
and inner jambs, which are of early 14th-century date. In the S. wall are two windows, each
of two pointed lights in a two-centred head,
all modern except the moulded 14th-century
rear arch and inner jambs; the small S. doorway is also modern. The Charnel (21 ft. by
13 ft., and 6½ ft. high), under the Lady chapel,
has walls of rough stone, with irregularly formed
recesses in them. On the W. side are remains
of stone steps; the present entrance is a trapdoor. There is no evidence to show that the
charnel is of earlier date than the Lady chapel.
The Nave (75 ft. by 25 ft.) has N. and S. arcades
of six bays, opening into the aisles and chapels;
the piers are quatrefoil in plan, with moulded
bases and capitals; the two-centred arches are
of two plain chamfered orders, with a much
restored label in the nave, all the piers
have been re-built, using the old material, and
the arches have been restored. The late 15th-century W. window is of six cinque-foiled lights
and elaborate tracery of heavy moulded bars in
a four-centred head; the W. doorway has a
trefoiled arch on each side of it, all modern
copies of the 13th-century design. The North
Aisle Chapel (32½ ft. by 19½ ft. at the E. end,
22 ft. at the W. end) has, in the N. wall, three
windows, each of three lights: the easternmost has 14th-century jambs and a moulded
rear arch of later character, the external stonework and tracery being modern: the middle
window, probably in a 14th-century opening,
has late 15th-century jambs and modern
tracery; the external label is much decayed and
one stop is broken: the westernmost window is
of late 15th-century date and of three cinque-foiled lights with tracery in a two-centred
head; the moulded jambs have broach stops;
the external stonework is much restored. In
the W. wall is a late 15th or early 16th-century
window, only slightly restored, of three cinque-foiled four-centred lights with sunk spandrels
in a depressed head. The North Aisle (42½ ft.
by 9½ ft.) has, in the N. wall, a late 15th-century window similar to the N.W. window of the
chapel; and further E. a modern doorway,
apparently copied from an original doorway.
The W. window is a two-centred single light,
considerably restored, with a moulded 13th-century rear arch. Spanning the aisle, from
N. to S., are three depressed four-centred arches,
inserted in the 15th century; they spring from
moulded corbels on the nave arcade, and are
supported on the N. wall by semi-octagonal
engaged shafts, with moulded bases and
capitals; these arches connect the external buttresses with the wall of the nave, and all have
been considerably restored. The South Aisle
Chapel (32 ft. square) has been considerably re-built. In the middle, supporting the roof is an
oak post (see Roofs). The three windows in the
S. wall are modern. The South Aisle (43 ft. by
10 ft.) has, in the S. wall, two windows, the
eastern of two lights, with 15th-century
moulded jambs and modern tracery: the second
a lancet, with a shallow splay and chamfered
sill; the moulded internal jambs and head are
similar to those of the easternmost window in
the N. aisle chapel, and are probably of the 14th
century, re-set, possibly in the 17th century;
the external stonework is modern: the S. doorway, at the E. end of the wall, is modern. The
window in the W. wall has a plain four-centred
chamfered head of c. 1500; the tracery is
modern. The three arches spanning the aisle,
similar in form to those in the N. aisle, were
apparently erected in the 15th century, but
possibly replaced arches of an earlier date; the
mouldings differ and may incorporate parts of
the earlier mouldings: the arches spring from
modern corbels on the nave arcade and on the S.
side from chamfered engaged shafts, with
moulded and carved corbels supporting the
inner orders; the westernmost arch is without a
shaft, and has been considerably restored.
The South Porch has a 15th-century entrance
archway, with continuously moulded jambs
and two-centred arch; inside the entrance,
above the spring of the arch on each side, is a
mutilated corbel, which seems to indicate that
the porch has been re-modelled. In each side
wall is a shallow stone arcade with five pointed
arches, and part of a sixth, having shafts with
moulded bell-capitals and plain bases of 13th-century character, which rest on a stone bench
with a modern top; the arcades are evidently
re-set and considerably restored, but were possibly in an original porch. The Roof of the
chancel is of the 13th century, with roughly
wrought trussed rafters, partly restored. The
Lady chapel has a low-pitched roof of mid 15th-century date, with moulded oak tie-beams,
shouldered purlins without tracery, and brackets
carried on embattled and moulded corbels of
stone. The roof of the N. transept is of late
15th or early 16th-century date, considerably
restored; the four principals are carried on
curved brackets with traceried spandrels, supported on corbels; one original corbel is of
moulded stone, and two others, also original,
are of wood, one carved with a lion's head
crowned: the S. transept has a similar roof,
much renovated; all the corbels are apparently
original, of wood. The N. aisle chapel has a
15th-century roof similar to those of the N. and
S. transepts, in three bays, with two principals
and two half-principals; the flat tie-beams are
embattled and moulded, the brackets are carved
as buttresses with cusped panels; the purlins
and rafters are modern, the tracery is restored.
The roof of the S. aisle chapel is of the 15th
century, slightly sloping to a central ridge
running E. and W., supported in the middle
by an oak post, originally rough and square,
now re-worked to a polygonal section, with
a base and capital cut out of the solid post,
with four curved modern brackets from the
post to the beams; the ceiling is in sixteen
panels, divided by moulded beams, and sub-divided by the rafters. The S. porch has a
15th-century roof similar to those of the transepts.
Fittings—Bells: eight, modern, and sanctus
inscribed 1612, W. Y. [William Yare].
Bracket: on E. wall of the Lady chapel, semi-octagonal, embattled and moulded, late 15th-century. Brasses and Indents. Indent: in N.
transept—in fragments of slab now supporting
effigy of knight (see Monuments), of shield, and
stud, possibly for fixing another shield.
Chests: in N. transept, with interlacing iron
bands, two locks, one in lid, two padlocks,
probably late 17th-century: in upper storey of
vestry, oak, with moulded styles and buttresses,
two framed lids with strap-hinges, late 15th or
early 16th-century, imperfect. Credence Table:
on S. side of chancel, of wood, three sides
panelled and carved, one panel opening, four
turned legs, mid 17th-century. Doors: between
organ-chamber and vestry, of studded oak battens, with ornamental strap-hinges, large central
iron boss, with heavy iron bar on pivot, catch on
door-jamb into which the bar swings, raised by
handle or key, fitting into middle of boss, probably 13th-century: to organ-chamber from chancel, of studded oak battens, with strap-hinges,
15th-century. Easter Sepulchre: in N. wall of
chancel, near E. end, with two-centred, slightly
stilted, elaborately moulded drop arch, jambs
having short attached shafts with moulded
capitals and bases, late 13th-century, much restored and re-cut, sill modern. Font: circular
ogee fluted bowl, band of stiff-leafed foliage
in relief at the top, stem with double cheveron
moulding, square scalloped base with panels
of conventional foliage, and a carved leaf between each scallop at the top, late 12th-century; found in three pieces buried in débris in
different parts of the church. Locker: in N.
wall of chancel, double, with trefoiled heads,
rebated jambs and mullion, re-cut, the heads
almost entirely modern. Monuments: In N.
transept—in recess in N. wall (see Brasses and
Recesses) (1) alabaster recumbent effigy of
knight wearing bascinet, mail aventail and
hawberk, gipon and elaborate hip-belt, plate
arm-pieces with elbow-cops, plate cuisses, jambs
and knee-cops, scaled sabatons with spurs, head
resting on helm, with animal's head as crest,
sword broken, feet resting on lion, on gipon
traces of coat of arms—a fesse dancetty between
(apparently) three leopards' heads, two in
chief much worn, one in base scarcely traceable—no inscription, c. 1390, found near the
reputed site of the Franciscan Friary in
Aylesbury, and said to be of James Butler, third
Earl of Ormonde, but the arms negative the
assertion; on N. side, (2) large tomb of the
wife of Sir Henry Lee, daughter of Lord Paget,
1584, and her three children; kneeling figures
of Lady Lee and her daughter, and two chrisom
infants, under a canopy, all of alabaster; two
inscriptions and four shields with arms. In S.
transeptal chapel—on W. wall, (3) to Thomas
Reie and Thomas Turnis, 1596; (4) to Alexander
Farmberow, 1628. In N. aisle chapel—in recesses in N. wall, (5–6) two stone coffin lids, each
with cross in relief, 14th-century, the head of
cross on eastern lid, modern. Niche: in E.
wall of N. transept, with trefoiled moulded
arch, shafted jambs, moulded capitals and
bases, 13th-century. Piscinæ: in E. wall of
N. transept, in square rebated recess, with
square sunk basin supported on small clustered
shaft, having moulded base and foliated capital,
late 13th or early 14th-century: in same wall,
further S., with moulded jambs and two-centred
trefoiled head, 14th-century, plain shallow basin
and small shelf, modern: in S. wall of Lady
chapel, modern copy of 14th-century design: in
E. wall of N. aisle chapel, with moulded jambs
and two-centred trefoiled head, chamfered stone
shelf, 14th-century, basin and additional shelf
modern: in S. wall of S. aisle chapel, with
cinque-foiled head, originally trefoiled, chamfered jambs and shelf, deep fluted basin, in
the soffit at back, built into the wall, a carved
head, probably 13th-century, re-cut at a later
date. Recesses: in N. wall of N. transept, low
down, with two-centred cinque-foiled drop arch,
elaborately moulded, the points of the foils
cusped, short shafted jambs with moulded capitals and bases, 14th-century, contains effigy of
knight (see Monuments): in N. wall of N. aisle
chapel, two, each with elaborately moulded
two-centred drop arch and label, jambs with
small attached shafts, moulded capitals and
bases, 14th-century, all re-cut, carved bosses of
labels apparently modern. Seating: in chancel,
misericordes, two ranges, four seats in each with
shaped and moulded divisions; on N. side, only
one hinged seat original, carved with grotesque
animal and foliage; on S. side, four seats original, first, carved small animal and foliage,
second, human head and foliage, third,
human figure supporting the seat on his
back, fourth (at the W. end), only blocked out
for carving, unfinished, late 15th-century,
mouldings at the top and E. standards modern:
on N. side of chancel, two bench ends, with
traceried panels and carved poppy heads, 15th-century: in the N. transept, two high-backed
seats, partly original, with one original bench
end, carved and moulded, 15th-century, restored with modern work: at W. end of S. aisle,
modern, except the traceried heads of the
panels in six standards, and part of head in
seventh standard, 15th-century: near S. doorway, front of seat with moulded rail at the top,
and five cinque-foiled ogee panels with traceried
heads, 15th-century: in upper storey of vestry,
traceried heads of similar panels, in three
pieces, one piece with five heads and part of a
sixth, the other pieces with three heads and
part of a fourth, all 15th-century. Sedilia: in
S. wall of Lady chapel, in range with piscina,
with cinque-foiled ogee heads, carved crockets
and finial, 14th-century, all restored except
parts of one jamb and mullions. Miscellanea:
in blocked arch in E. wall of S. transept, large
sunk cross, of stone, with moulded edges,
stopped near base, probably 15th-century,
partly restored; in S. jamb of W. window of N.
aisle, inside, consecration cross—Latin cross,
cusped at internal angles, on base of two steps,
enclosed in quatre-foiled circle: in N.E. corner
of nave, nine fragments of carved and moulded
stones, including heads, crockets, etc., 13th,
14th and 15th-century; vestment cupboard,
in N. transept, of oak, with panelled sides and
moulded cornice, late 15th or early 16th-century; three swinging brackets, only one original.
Condition—In good repair.
Secular
The town contains, especially in the vicinity
of the church, many buildings of 17th-century
or earlier date; a considerable number have
been so much altered that they have become
practically modern; those retaining more
evidence of their date are specified below.
St. Mary's Square, N. side
(2). The Derby Arms Inn, is of two storeys
and an attic, built probably in the 17th century. The walls have been re-faced with
modern brick, but some of the chimneys are
original, and the beams in the ceiling of the
gateway are old. The roofs are tiled.
Condition—Good.
E. side

Aylesbury, Plan Shewing Positions of Monuments
(3–10). Cottages, Nos. 2-8, and No. 6, Church
Row, are in one range, of two storeys and an
attic, built of brick and timber in the 17th century, now much restored. The roofs are tiled.
The walls in front are of modern brick or
covered with cement; a little of the original
timber-framing and brick filling remains at the
back. Five of the chimneys are of 17th-century
brick.
Condition—Good.
(11). The Foresters' Arms Inn, on the
N.E. side of Church Row (see also (10) above),
is of two storeys, built probably in the 17th
century, but much restored. The walls are
of brick, with some timber, and the front is
cemented. The roof is partly tiled and partly
covered with slates. A large chimney at the S.
end of the house is of old thin bricks, and a
smaller stack is covered with cement.
Condition—Good.
Kingsbury, N.W. side
(12). House, No. 30 (see Plate, p. 30), at the
corner of Kingsbury and Church Row, is of
two storeys, built of brick and timber early in
the 17th century, now much restored. The roof
is tiled. At the W. end, facing Church Row,
much of the original brick and timber remains,
and the upper storey projects and is gabled.
Condition—Fairly good.
(13). The Rockwood Ale House, adjoining
(12), is of two storeys, built probably in the
17th century. The front is covered with rough-cast; the original brick and timber shows above
a modern addition at the back. The roof is
tiled. One chimney stack is of 17th-century
brick.
Condition—Fairly good.
(14). House, now two dwellings and a shop,
Nos. 34-38, adjoining the E. end of the Rockwood Ale House, is of two storeys and an attic,
built of brick and timber in the 16th century.
The roofs are tiled. The S. front has been
restored, and the upper storey and gable are
covered with plaster; at the E. end, No. 38, the
upper storey projects and rests on an original
moulded beam. Some of the chimneys are of
old thin bricks. In the ceiling of the shop is
an original moulded beam, and other ceilings
have chamfered beams with moulded stops. In
the floor of a loft at the back is part of a 17th-century rail of carved oak.
Condition—Fairly good.
(15). House, No. 54, now a baker's shop, is
of two storeys; it is possibly a 17th-century
building, but has been restored, and the front
covered with cement. The roof is tiled. Inside
the house is some mid 17th-century oak panelling, richly carved and moulded.
Condition—Good.
S.W. side
(16). The Red Lion Inn, at the corner of
George Street, is of two storeys, partly timber-framed and covered with plaster, partly of
brick. The roofs are tiled. It consisted originally of a small rectangular block, facing
N.E., and built c. 1600; late in the 17th century an L-shaped block was built at the back,
with the inner angle of the L facing S.; in the
19th century a second L-shaped block was added
at the S.E. end, with the inner angle facing
W., and other additions were built round the
courtyard at the back. The N.W. front is refaced with modern brick. The N.E. front is
covered with plaster, and has a large covered
gateway in the middle. At the back the main
building is gabled and timber-framed, with
late 17th-century brick filling; on the first floor
is a blocked window; the S.W. wing is of old
timber and whitewashed brick and has, on the
first floor, two late 17th-century windows with
oak mullions, now blocked. The original part
of the house has, at the S.E. end, a chimney of
early 17th-century brick, and at the other end
a chimney of slightly later date; in the upper
storey the original timbers of the roof, with
wind-braced purlins, etc., are visible. The
other parts of the house have old timbers in
walls and partitions.
Condition—Good.
(17–25). Houses and Shops, in a block of
small buildings, some modern, bounded by
Kingsbury on the W. and by Buckingham
Street on the E., are of two and of three storeys,
built of brick, many being covered with plaster
in front. Some of the roofs are covered with
tiles and the others with slates. One house,
now a shop, No. 23, Kingsbury, is of the 16th
century; the others are of the 17th century, and
restored. No. 23, Kingsbury, is covered with
plaster in front; the upper storey originally projected, but has been under-built. In the ceiling
of the shop are two large moulded cross-beams; the return of the moulding at the end
of one beam shows the position of the original
front of the lower storey. No. 114, Buckingham
Street, at the N. end of the block, and probably
originally two houses, is of mid 17th-century
date. The walls are timber-framed, now much
restored, and part of the front is covered with
rough-cast. Two windows at the back are
original and have casement fastenings of iron,
elaborately pierced; a dormer window has an
old iron casement with a spring catch. At the
N.W. corner of the block three small Shops
have a little 17th-century brickwork in the walls
facing a small back yard; one window, now
blocked, is original and has a chamfered wood
frame and mullion. One chimney stack is also
original. Near the N. end of the block a small
Shop, facing Kingsbury, has an early 17th-century panelled door, old floor-boards and timber-framed internal partitions. The Eagle Inn,
and another House, facing Kingsbury, have
each a chimney of 17th-century brick, restored. The floors of the Eagle Inn have
original boards, and there is a stop-chamfered
beam in one of the ceilings. No. 19, Kingsbury, adjoining the Eagle Inn, also has old
ceiling-beams and floor-boards. A Shop at the
S. end of the block has walls covered with
plaster, and on the S. front the upper storey
projects slightly, the lower storey having been
built out probably to nearly the same level.
The ceilings have encased beams, and in one
room is an early 17th-century panelled door.
Some Outbuildings facing Buckingham Street
are of 17th-century timber-framing with
modern brick filling.
Condition—Good, much restored.
Buckingham Street, N. side
(26). House, No. 21, now a shop, is modern,
but a small rectangular wing at the back is
built of brick and timber, and the size and
height of the wall-posts possibly indicate that
it is of mediæval date. The roof is tiled.
Condition—Poor.
(27). House, now two dwellings, Nos. 17 and
19, is of two storeys, built in the first half of the
17th century, of timber and brick, now covered
with plaster. The roofs are tiled. The plan
is of modified half-H type, and the wings project towards the E. The main block, facing the
street, probably contained a hall and parlour,
and extends beyond the S. wing, the lower
storey in the extension being pierced by an
archway; the S. wing contains a small room on
the ground floor, and the upper storey projects;
the N. wing extends further towards the E.
than the S. wing and contains domestic offices,
etc. In the 18th century the northern half of
the main block was re-fronted with brick; the
southern half retains the original construction,
but is plastered; two or three of the windows of
the upper storey may be original, and have
plain solid frames and metal casements, with
pierced scutcheons, etc. Some of the original
timber-framing remains at the back. Inside
the house a few chamfered beams are visible,
and, in the N. wing, one of them is supported
by an original turned wooden column.
Condition—Good, much altered.
(28). House, No. 13, is of two storeys, built
of brick and timber in the 16th or 17th century,
and almost completely re-faced with brick in
the 18th century; the gabled wall at one end,
facing a small side alley, retains the original
timber-framing. The roof is tiled.
Condition—Fairly good, much re-built.
(29). Roundels, at No. 7: the house is an
18th-century building, but the two terra-cotta
roundels set in the wall facing the street appear
to be of the 16th century.
Condition—Fairly good.
(30). The Harrow Inn, is a two-storeyed house
of brick; the roof is tiled. It incorporates the
remains of a rectangular or L-shaped building
of the 17th century. Inside the house a few
rough chamfered beams are visible.
Condition—Fairly good, much re-built.
Whitehall Street, N.W. side
(31). Window, in the grounds of Ardenham
House, about 200 yards N. of the church, is of
five cinque-foiled lights with elaborate tracery
under a depressed head, of stone, and of late
15th-century date. It is said to have come from
Tring Church, Hertfordshire, but was, until
recently, in pieces in a field on the road from
Aylesbury to Bierton.
Condition—Lower part of mullions and the
sill missing, but otherwise in good preservation.
(32-36). Cottages, five, Nos. 17–25, are of two
storeys; Nos. 21 and 23 have attics. They are
built of brick, and are possibly of late 17th-century date. The roofs are tiled; the chimneys
are original.
Condition—Good.
(37). Cottage, No. 27, is of two storeys, built
early in the 17th century, and restored in the
18th and 19th centuries. The roof is tiled. In
front the lower storey is of 17th-century brick,
but the projecting upper storey and the gable
have been restored. The back retains some
original timber-framing, but much of the brickwork is modern. There is one chimney of old
thin bricks.
Condition—Poor.
(38–41). Cottages, four, in one block, Nos.
29–35, are of two storeys, built of brick in the
17th century, re-fronted, and much restored at
a later date. The roofs are tiled. The chimneys
are original.
Condition—Fairly good.
(42–43). Houses, two, Nos. 39 and 41, are of
two storeys and an attic, built late in the 17th
century, but entirely restored and re-faced with
brick in the 19th century. Only the chimneys
are original. The roofs are tiled.
Condition—Good.
(44). House, No. 45, is of two storeys, of
timber and brick, built in the 17th century;
the front is covered with modern rough-cast.
The roof is tiled. The rectangular chimney
stack is original.
Condition—Fairly good.
(45). House, No. 47, is of three storeys, built
early in the 17th century, probably of timber
and brick; the front is now covered with plaster,
and one end is of modern brick; additions
have been made at the back, but the gable
retains the original timber-framing. The roof
is partly tiled and partly covered with slates.
One large chimney is of original bricks. Some
of the ceilings have old beams, and most of the
floor-boards are original; one wide fireplace is
now partly blocked, and there is one original
door of moulded battens.
Condition—Fairly good.
(46–47). Cottages, two, on the S.W. side of
Whitehall Court, are of two storeys, built of
brick and timber in the 17th century, now
partly restored. The roof is tiled; one chimney
stack is original.
Condition—Poor.
(48). Cottage, known as No. 1, Whitehall
Row, at the back of No. 41, Whitehall Street,
is of two storeys, built of brick and timber, probably late in the 17th century. The roof is
tiled. The old chimney of No. 41, Whitehall
Street, also serves this cottage.
Condition—Fairly good.
(49). Cottage, now two tenements, at the
bottom of White Hill, is of one storey and an
attic, built probably in the 17th century
and much restored. The walls are of brick,
partly covered with plaster, and at the W. end
is some old timber-framing; the roof is tiled.
Condition—Fairly good.
Oxford Road, N. side
(50–51). The Rising Sun Inn and a Cottage
adjoining it at the S. end, are each of two
storeys, the upper storey partly in the roof,
built of brick probably late in the 17th century. The walls have been partly re-faced and
two modern bay windows added on the W. front
of the inn; there is also a modern addition at
the back. The roofs are tiled. Inside both
buildings are wide, open fireplaces, and one
room has an open timber ceiling.
Condition—Fairly good.
(52). House, now two cottages, Nos. 4 and 6,
is of two storeys. It was built on a rectangular
plan with a central chimney in the first half of
the 17th century; later in the same century a
wing was added at the back, making the plan
T-shaped, but modern additions have made it
again rectangular. The front was re-faced
with brick in the 18th century, and No. 6 is now
covered with cement. The original building
retains the old timber-framing at the E. end
inside a modern addition; at the W. end the
lower storey is of late 17th-century brick, and
the upper storey is timber-framed with modern
brick filling; at the back the late 17th-century
wing has old timber-framing, with filling of
modern brick. The central chimney stack is of
original thin bricks, and has V-shaped pilasters
on two faces. In No. 6 is a wide fireplace with
corner seats.
Condition—Fairly good.
Rickford's Hill, S. side
(53). Fragments, dug up in the grounds of
'The Primroses', on the reputed site of the
monastery of Grey Friars, founded in 1386 by
James Butler, third Earl of Ormonde (see
Monuments in church). The stones are set in
the retaining wall of a bank in the garden,
and include two pieces of the moulded jamb of
a late 15th-century window; two other stones,
reversed and used as steps, are said to have
worked chamfered edges underneath; and some
old brick walling, now covered, may be part
of the Friary buildings. Two small figures of
weeping women, in white marble, forming part
of a framed setting, possibly of a tomb, were
found also on the site, but appear to be of a
date not earlier than the 17th century; they
are now in the Aylesbury Museum.
(54). Green End House, is of two storeys and
an attic; the walls are plastered and painted;
the roof is covered with slates. It was built
apparently in the 17th century, on an L-shaped
plan, enlarged and remodelled in the 18th century. Inside the house are two panelled oak
doors, of early 17th-century date, one with a
carved frieze and an original double S hinge.
Some of the floors have old oak boards.
Condition—Good.
N. side
(55–58). Houses, Nos. 17 and 19, now one
dwelling, with Nos. 21 and 23, at the corner of
Bourbon Street, form a row of late 17th-century buildings, each of two storeys and an
attic, which is lighted by four gabled dormer
windows. The front is of brick; at the back
the walls are of old timber-framing with brick
filling; the roofs are tiled. The chimneys are
of late 17th-century brick. Inside the houses
the ceilings have original beams, and there are
old oak staircases leading to the attic.
Condition—Good.
E. side
(59). The Saracen's Head Inn, is of two
storeys with a cellar, built apparently early in
the 17th century, on a rectangular plan; early
in the 18th century it was re-fronted with
brick, now covered with plaster, and additions
were made at the back in the 18th and 19th
centuries. The gabled N. end shows original
timber-framing, and has a chimney stack of
early 17th-century brick. The central stack
is of 18th-century brick above the roof. Inside the house some of the original timber construction is visible.
Condition—Good.
(60). House, of two storeys, with an attic and
cellar, built at the end of the 17th century, on
a rectangular plan, facing N.W.; at the back
and S.W. end are modern additions. The front
is of dark brick with red brick dressings, and
has a moulded plinth, a plain string-course
between the storeys, and a moulded brick cornice; the upper storey retains four original windows with oak mullions and transoms. The
N.E. end is gabled, of red brick with black
headers in a diamond pattern, and at the level
of the first and second floors are moulded stringcourses; the E. half of the gable has been
heightened. The roof is tiled. The chimneys
at each end of the original building are of late
17th-century brick. Inside the house some of
the ceilings have chamfered beams, and there
are old oak stairs leading to the attic.
Condition—Good.
Castle Street, N. side
(61). House, No. 2, is of two storeys and an
attic, built in the first half of the 17th century.
The front was re-faced with brick and
heightened in the 18th century, and has a
moulded cornice; the back is of original timber-framing with brick filling, and has two gables;
on the first floor are two early 17th-century
windows, with iron frames and ornamental
fastenings; two windows on the second floor
have similar frames. The W. end has a plastered gable which is visible above the roof of
the adjoining house, and shows traces of the
heightening of the front; the original bargeboard has been re-used. Inside the house on
the ground floor one ceiling has an original
moulded beam and others have chamfered
beams. On the first floor a room has one wall
covered with early 17th-century oak panelling
which has moulded muntins, chair rail, and
cornice; part of the reverse side shows in the
staircase to the attic.
Condition—Good.
S. side, from E. to W.
(62). Cottage, No. 1, is of two storeys, and of
early 17th-century date; the S.E. corner was
cut away when the adjoining house was built
on the S.W. side of Temple Square. In front
the lower storey is of modern brick and the
upper storey is covered with modern plaster; at
the back the walls are of old timber-framing
and brick. The roof is tiled. At the W. end
is an original chimney stack. Some of the ceilings have chamfered beams, and the roof retains three out of the four original wind-braces
of the purlins.
Condition—Fairly good.
(63). Cottage, No. 3, of two storeys, was
built probably early in the 17th century, but
has been much altered. The walls are of brick
and the front is covered with plaster; the roof
is tiled. One room has an old fireplace, partly
blocked.
Condition—Good.
(64). House, now three tenements, Nos.
7, 9 and 11, is of two storeys and an attic, built
c. 1640, but considerably altered. The walls
are of brick; the roof is tiled. In front, between
the storeys, is a projecting string-course,
above which are six windows, three now
blocked; the three dormer windows are gabled
and that in the middle has, in the head, an
ornamental rose in plaster. The timber-framing of the W. wall shows in the next house. The
central chimney in the W. half of the building
is original. Inside the house are chamfered
and rough ceiling-beams.
Condition—Fairly good.
(65). House, now two tenements, Nos. 13 and
15, is of two storeys and an attic, built probably late in the 17th century. The plan was
originally L-shaped, but modern additions have
been made at the back. In front is a late 17th-century plinth of moulded brick, above which
the wall is of modern brick. At the back the
original walls are timber-framed, with plaster
filling in the main block and brick filling in the
wing. The central chimney stack is original,
and has an arched recess in the N. face. Inside
No. 13 is a chamfered ceiling-beam and a large
fireplace, partly blocked.
Condition—Good.
(66). House, now two tenements, Nos. 19 and
21, is of two storeys, with an attic and cellar,
built in the second half of the 17th century. In
front the W. half of the house, No. 21, is of
late 17th-century brick, with a string-course at
the level of the first floor, a moulded brick cornice, and original mullioned windows; the
lower storey of No. 19 is similar to that of
No. 21; the upper storey was heightened and
altered in the 19th century. The W. end has a
gable of timber and brick, showing above the
roof of the next house, and a late 17th-century
chimney stack. At the back are modern
additions.
Condition—Fairly good.
(67). House, No. 23, is of two storeys, built
c. 1550, but enlarged at the back and the interior much altered in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The front is timber-framed and covered with
plaster; the upper storey projects, except over
three bay windows on the ground floor. At
the back the old walls are timber-framed; on
the ground floor the brick filling is whitewashed, and the upper storey is covered with
plaster. The roof is tiled. The central chimney stack is partly of early 17th-century date.
A large covered gateway at the W. end of the
house is weather-boarded, and beyond it is a
malt kiln built of late 17th-century brick.
Inside the house are chamfered ceiling-beams
and some of the timbers are visible in the walls.
The roof over the middle part of the house
appears to have been that of an upper hall, and
retains three out of the four original curved
and hollow chamfered wind-braces of the purlins; the westernmost room also has wind-braced
purlins of rougher workmanship.
Condition—Good.
(68). House, Nos. 25 and 27, is of two storeys,
and probably of the 17th century. The front
is of brick, covered with plaster, and has old
mullioned window-frames in the upper storey.
The gabled ends are of brick. The roof is tiled.
At the E. end is a chimney stack of 17th-century brick. Some of the ceilings have original
chamfered beams.
Condition—Fairly good.
Parson's Fee, N.W. side
(69). St. Osyths, formerly the Prebendal
Farm, is partly timber-framed and partly of
brick; the roofs are tiled. The plan follows
the curve of the road in front, and consists of
three blocks; the middle block, containing the
kitchen and domestic offices, is rectangular,
and is probably a fragment of a late 16th-century building; the S. block, now used as an outhouse, is also rectangular but somewhat
smaller, and was added c. 1650; the N. or main
block was built late in the 17th century; it is
of a modified L-shape, with the inner angle
facing S.W.
The N. block is of two storeys and an attic,
built of late 17th-century brick, with a chamfered plinth, a moulded string-course at the
level of the first floor, and a moulded cornice.
The front is whitewashed, and has at the S.
end a doorway with an oak frame of late 17th-century date; in the roof are two hipped dormers, and at each end is a late 17th-century
chimney; the N. and S. ends have each two
gables; at the back are three late 17th-century
windows with oak mullions, iron frames and
spring catches. The middle or 16th-century
block is lower than the N. block, and is of two
storeys, with walls of black timber-framing
and whitewashed brick filling; the front is of
one and a half bays. The S. or mid 17th-century block is also of two storeys, but built at a
lower level to follow the slope of the ground;
it is of narrow timbers, with whitewashed brick
filling, and a brick plinth; the front is in two
bays. The interior has been much altered; one
door in the main block seems to be the original
front door, re-fixed. The kitchen has a chamfered ceiling-beam.
Behind the house is a large barn, of six bays,
probably a late 16th-century tithe barn, timber-framed and covered with weather-boarding.
The roof is tiled, and has queen-post trusses.
Condition—Of the N. and middle blocks,
good; of the S. block, poor, the upper floor being
too dangerous for use; of the barn, poor.
(70–73). Cottages, four, Nos. 5–8, in one
range, are of two storeys, built in the first half
of the 17th century, and now covered with
rough-cast. The roofs are tiled. In front, each
cottage has a bow window on the ground floor;
the upper storey projects, and has, over the bow
window, a gable with verge moulding cut into
dentils.
Condition—Fairly good.
Church Street, N.E. side
(74). House, No. 1, is of two storeys, with
an attic and cellars, built c. 1540, and refronted with brick in 1739, when the roofs were
altered, and the attic floor was inserted. At
the N.W. end the original timber-framed gable
is visible above the roof of the adjoining house,
but has been heightened with 18th-century
brick. The plan appears to have been rectangular; at the back there are modern additions.
On the ground floor the original moulded ceiling-beams point to there having been formerly
only two rooms, now sub-divided, and the position of the square stops indicates that the upper
storey projected; one shaped wall-post remains.
On the first floor are several shaped wall-posts
and other remains of the original timber-framing of the walls. The staircase has been altered
and coated with paint, but the central oak post,
carried from the ground to the first floor, one
square turned newel, and some of the turned
balusters, are original. Some of the original
timbers of the roof remain, including two
trusses, which have highly cambered tie-beams
with chamfered edges, chamfered principals,
and moulded purlins with chamfered wind-braces.
Condition—Good.
(75). Roof-timbers, at Ceely House: the house
is an 18th-century building, but the roof is made
up of the timbers of a 15th-century roof. There
are four trusses of two types; one truss has
collar and tie-beams, the others have braced
collars, and all have double ogee mouldings
and appear to have been re-constructed; most
of the purlins are double-chamfered and have
double ogee mouldings.
Condition—Good; re-constructed.
S.W. side
(76). The Chantry, No. 8, is of two storeys,
with an attic over part of the house, and a
cellar. It was built possibly in the middle or
second half of the 16th century, but early in
the 18th century additions were made at the
back, and in the 19th century the front was
covered with plaster and altered. The roofs are
tiled. The central chimney stack is probably
original, and the chimney at the S.E. end also
may be old, but both are modern above the
roof. The dining-room has, in a recess, a large
open fireplace, which is in situ, and has been
only recently discovered; it has an original
heavy lintel of oak, with a four-centred arched
soffit and a gabled upper edge; the jambs are
of modern stone, but the back of the fireplace
is of original long bricks. The staircase may
be partly of the 17th century, but is covered
with paint, and is said to be largely of pitch
pine or deal. The roof of the room over the
hall is ridged parallel with the front of the
house, and has chamfered purlins; it has been
altered in front for three modern gables. The
room on the N.W. has a ridged roof at right
angles to the front with a chamfered purlin and
four curved wind-braces.
Condition—Good.
(77). House, No. 12, is a small building of
two storeys, timber-framed, with brick filling,
now covered with rough-cast in front; the roof
is tiled. It was built in the 17th century, and
has been considerably restored. The plan is
rectangular. In front there are two gables
and the upper storey projects.
Condition—Fairly good.
(78). House, No. 14, was probably built at
the same time as (77), but has been more altered.
Some traces of original work remain at the
back.
Condition—Fairly good.
Temple Square, N.E. side
(79). The Queen's Head Inn, at the corner
of George Street, is of two storeys, partly timber-framed and plastered, partly of brick; the
roofs are tiled. It was built early in the 17th
century on an L-shaped plan; towards the end
of the same century a rectangular wing was
added at the back, and is now used as part of
the next house (No. 3, Temple Square);
in the 19th century a further addition
was built at the back, and the house was
restored. The S.W. front is covered with
plaster; the S.E. front is of modern brick; at
the W. end is an original chimney stack of
thin bricks. The late 17th-century wing is of
red and black bricks, and has a central chimney
stack and tall wood-mullioned windows, which
have been altered to light a workshop. Inside
the house are original chamfered beams in the
ceilings, and traces of the original timber-framing can be seen in the walls; the late
17th-century wing also has old ceiling-beams
and roof timbers. In the modern addition is
a recess, formerly used for a dyer's tub; it
has an oak lintel made up of part of the head
of a 16th-century fireplace, similar to that in
No. 8, Church Street (see above).
Condition—Of the original part of the
building, good; of the wing, rather poor.
(80). House, now two dwellings, Nos. 3 and
5, is of two storeys and an attic. It consists
of a rectangular block, built early in the 17th
century, and a small wing at the back, added
later in the same century, making the plan
L-shaped. The front was re-faced in the 18th
century. The back of the main block is of
original timber and brick, and is gabled. The
wing, also gabled, is of late 17th-century
timber and brick, with a projecting chimney
stack, of which the lower part is of stone and
the upper part of brick. The roofs are tiled.
Inside No. 3 is an oak battened door of the
17th century; inside No. 5 is a panelled door of
early 17th-century date, and the rooms on the
ground floor are lined with late 17th or early
18th-century panelling.
Condition—Fairly good.
N.W. side
(81). House, now the headquarters of the
local Territorial forces, at the corner of Castle
Street, is of two storeys and an attic. It was
built late in the 16th or early in the 17th century, and appears to have been originally timber-framed, but was re-fronted and enlarged in
the 18th century, and again enlarged in the
19th century. The front is of brick, covered
with cement; at the S.W. end is an original
gable with a barge-board, and the original
timber-framing of the wall can be traced inside
the next house. The back is covered by the 18th
and 19th-century additions. The roofs are tiled.
One room and passages on the ground and first
floors have original panelling, and in the attic
are old roof-timbers, re-used in the 18th century, when the roof was probably heightened.
Condition—Good.
S.E. side
(82). House, now a shop, is of three storeys,
built probably in the 16th century, but
heightened and much altered in the 19th century. The walls, probably of brick, are
cemented; the roof is covered with slates. Inside the shop are some original moulded ceiling-beams similar to those in the next house (83).
Condition—Good.
Temple Street, S.W. side
(83). House, now a shop, No. 28, at the
corner of Temple Square, is of two storeys and
an attic. It was built in the second half of
the 16th century, but has been re-fronted, the
upper storey being of 18th-century brick and
under-built with modern brick: the roof is tiled.
On the ground floor there are moulded ceiling-beams, which show that the upper storey
formerly projected.
Condition—Fairly good.
(84). House, No. 26, is of three storeys, built
probably in the 17th century or earlier, but refronted with brick and much altered in the 18th
century. At the back is some old timber-framing. The roof is tiled.
Condition—Good.
(85). House, now a shop, No. 24, is of two
storeys and an attic, built late in the 16th century and re-fronted with brick in the 18th
century; the back is covered with plaster; the
roof is tiled. In the shop and adjoining front
room are moulded ceiling-joists.
Condition—Good.
(86–87). Houses, two, Nos. 22 and 20, now
one dwelling and an office, are of three storeys,
built early in the 17th century, and much
altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. No. 22
is almost entirely of 18th-century brick, but
at the back a window on the first floor has a
17th-century iron frame with an ornamental
plate fastening. No. 20 is re-fronted with
modern brick; at the back is a wing built of
timber and brick, probably of early 18th-century date, and re-set in the S. wall of a modern
addition is the original oak door-frame of the
main entrance. The roofs are covered with slate.
In No. 22 one room and an adjoining passage
have early 17th-century panelling.
Condition—Good.
(88). House, now a shop, No. 18, is of three
storeys, built probably in the 17th century, but
much altered in the 19th century. The plan is
L-shaped. The front is of modern brick; the
wing at the back retains the original timber-framing, with brick filling. The roofs are tiled.
Condition—Good.
(89–91). Houses, three, Nos. 12, 14, and 16,
are each of two storeys and an attic, built early
in the 17th century, and less altered than
other buildings in the street. In front they
are timber-framed and covered with plaster.
At the back Nos. 14 and 16 are gabled, and
have been re-faced with 18th-century brick; No.
12 is also gabled and retains the original timber-framing and brick filling, but the timbers
have been plastered and the bricks thickly
whitewashed. The roofs are tiled. A chimney
stack at the W. end of No. 16 is of 17th-century
brick. The rooms on the ground floor of No.
16 have old ceiling-beams; in No. 14 the timber-framing of the walls and roof is visible,
and there is an oak door of early 17th-century
date. Traces of the timber-framing can be
seen also in No. 12.
Condition—Fairly good.
(92–93). Houses, two, now shops, Nos. 8 and
10, now under one tenancy, are of three storeys,
built possibly in the 17th century, but much
altered. The walls are of 18th and 19th-century brick; at the back, on the second floor,
is an old window-frame. The roofs are tiled.
Some of the ceilings have chamfered beams.
Condition—Good.
(94). House, No. 6, now a shop, is of two
storeys, built probably in the second half of
the 17th century, but re-fronted in the 19th
century. At the back is a large gabled dormer and a timber-framed wing with late 17th-century brick filling. The roofs are covered
with slate. In the wing at the back the ceilings
have chamfered beams.
Condition—Good.
(95–96). Houses, two, Nos. 2 and 4, part of
the former Post Office (see also (110) below), now
shops, are each of three storeys. They were
built probably in the first half of the 17th century, but have been re-fronted with brick and
much altered. At the back No. 4 has old timber-framing with brick filling, thickly coated
with whitewash; No. 2 has an early 17th-century window-frame. The roofs are covered
with slate. Inside each house is a panelled door
of early 17th-century date; in the walls and
ceilings old timbers are visible, and those in
the third storey show the original slope of the
roof.
Condition—Good.
N.E. side
(97). House, No. 3, is of two storeys and an
attic, built probably late in the 17th century,
but much altered. The front is of modern brick,
the S.E. side, facing an alley, is of 18th-century brick; the back is of old timber-framing
with late 17th-century brick filling, and has a
gabled dormer window. The roof is tiled. Inside the house are chamfered ceiling-beams with
moulded stops.
Condition—Good.
(98). House, No. 5, now a shop, is of two
storeys. The front part of the building is probably of early 17th-century date. The front
is covered with plaster. At the back, connected
only by a covered passage on the ground floor,
is a late 17th-century building, which has
been re-faced with brick, but retains an original
oak door-frame and window-frame, and a
chimney stack of late 17th-century brick; the
ceilings have old chamfered beams.
Condition—Good.
(99). House, No. 13, is of two storeys, with
a cellar. The main block is probably of early
17th-century date; the wing at the back was
added later in the same century. The front is
of modern brick; the back of the main block
is timber-framed with modern brick filling; the
end of the wing is gabled, and retains late 17th-century brick and timber; the side wall is of
modern brick. The roofs are tiled. The main
block has chamfered ceiling-beams with chamfered stops, the wing has similar beams with
moulded stops, and one original battened oak
door remains.
Condition—Rather poor.
(100). House, No. 15, is a three-storeyed
building of brick, externally apparently of the
18th century, but a few beams inside the house
possibly indicate that it was built in the 17th
century.
Condition—Good.
(101). House, No. 17, at the corner of
George Street, is of two storeys and an attic.
It consists of two rectangular blocks, that
facing the street is covered with plaster, and
was built probably in the second half of the
17th century; the block at the back was built
of brick in the 18th century. The roofs are tiled.
At the back of the older part is a late 17th-century chimney stack.
Condition—Fairly good.
Silver Street
(102). The Dark Lantern Inn, is a three-storeyed rectangular house built of brick and
timber probably in the middle of the 16th
century; the front is covered with modern
rough-cast, and the back has been re-faced with
18th-century brick. The roof is tiled. On the
ground floor is a large, open fireplace and some
mid 17th-century panelling.
Condition—Fairly good, much altered and
restored.
(103). House, now a shop, facing a passage
S. of the Dark Lantern Inn, is of three storeys,
built in the 16th century. At the E. end the
original brick and timber is visible, and the
upper storey projects; the other walls are
covered with modern plaster. The roof is tiled.
Condition—Fairly good, much altered and
restored.
Silver Lane, S.E. side
(104). House, now a shop, is of two storeys,
built of brick and timber probably late in the
16th century. The walls are now partly covered
with plaster; the roof is tiled.
Condition—Much altered and restored.
(105–108). Cottages, a range, Nos. 1, 2, 3,
and 3a, are of two storeys, built of brick and
timber, probably late in the 16th century. The
walls have been partly re-faced; the roofs are
tiled. The upper storey of the southernmost
cottage projects slightly. Some of the rooms
have open timber ceilings.
Condition—Moderately good.
(109). Stables, on the N.E. side of Friarage
Road, were built probably in the 17th century.
The walls are of brick and timber; the roof is
tiled.
Condition—Good.
(110). House, part of the former Post Office
(see also (95–96) above), on the N.W. side of
Bourbon Street, is of two storeys and an attic,
built probably in the first half of the 17th century. The front is covered with plaster; the
back is thickly whitewashed and retains an old
window-frame on the first floor. One room has
an early 17th-century oak door.
Condition—Good.
Market Street, S.E. side
(111). House, now three shops, is of two
storeys, with an attic and cellars, built of
timber and brick probably in the middle of
the 16th century. The roof is tiled. The plan
was originally of half-H shape, with the wings
extending towards the N., but the space between
them is now enclosed. The front and E. end
are covered with modern plaster; at the back
the wall is of old timber and brick, and the
upper storey projects; the W. end is similar to
the back, but the upper storey has been under-built with brick. Interior:—At the W. end,
on the first floor, is a hall of three bays, with
a roof of modified queen-post construction.
Condition—Good, much altered.
N. side
(112–114). Houses, now shops, Nos. 1 and 3,
probably originally one building, and No. 5,
Market Street, with No. 11, Market Square,
form part of a range of buildings, of which
the two westernmost (Nos. 7 and 9, Market
Street) have been recently re-built. They are
each of three storeys and an attic, facing S.;
the N. half of the buildings is lower than the
S. half, and is probably of early 17th-century
date; it is timber-framed, covered with plaster,
and gabled at the back. The S. half of No. 5
was built probably late in the 17th century; the
upper storeys, with a gable, are timber-framed
and covered with plaster; they formerly projected, and there is said to be a moulded bressumer in front, now hidden: the S. half of
the other houses is probably of early 18th-century date; Nos. 1 and 3 are of brick, and No. 11
is covered with plaster and paint: at the back,
visible above the roof of the N. half of the buildings, are timber-framed gables with brick filling,
and chimney stacks of late 17th-century brick.
On the ground floor of No. 5, at the back, is some
mid 17th-century panelling, and the moulded
post and bracket of an early 17th-century doorway.
Condition—Good.
Market Square, W. side (see also (114)
above)
(115). The Old King's Head Inn, is of two
storeys, with an attic and cellars; the walls
are of brick and timber. The roofs are tiled.
It was built about the middle of the 15th century, but has been much altered, and part of
the house now forms a separate tenement.
The hall is a fine example of mediæval
domestic architecture, and its large window,
which retains some original glass, is of especial
interest.
The original plan consisted of four ranges enclosing a fairly large courtyard. The S.W.
Range contained the kitchens at the N.W. end
and a hall possibly of five bays; above them
was a series of chambers. Only two bays remain of the hall, which is higher than the other
rooms on the ground floor; the rest of the range
has been completely re-built, and is largely of
the 19th century, with the kitchens immediately
N.W. of the hall. The rooms on the first floor
and an attic are reached by two small enclosed
staircases of the 18th or 19th century. In the
18th century additions were made on the S.W.
side of the range.
The S.E. Range appears to have been sub-divided into several large rooms, but has been
very much altered; with the end of the S.W.
range it forms the main front of the building,
and once faced the market square. On the
ground floor, next to the hall, is a long narrow
room, forming bar and bar-parlour, and beyond
it is the entrance to the yard; this entrance appears to be a 17th-century arrangement. On the
first floor are two rooms formed out of one chamber, originally open to the roof, but now ceiled;
N.E. of these rooms, and facing the courtyard, is a large room, apparently part of
the original plan, but reached by a small
18th-century staircase from the archway.
The rest of this wing was almost completely
re-built in the 18th century, and part of
the N.E. end now forms the separate tenement.
The first floor originally projected on both sides
along the whole length of the range. The N.E.
and N.W. Ranges, almost completely re-built in
the 18th and 19th centuries, contain stabling
and lofts.
The S.E. Front has three gables; one gable
and the wall N.E. of the archway are covered
with cement, and all the openings of this part
are of the 18th century. The archway, of heavy
timbers, has moulded jambs and head with
curved bracketing, apparently original material
re-used; over it the gabled upper storey projects and has an oriel window, all detail being
modern: S.W. of the archway is the large hallwindow which is of ten lights in two stages and
is divided in the middle by a large wall-post;
all the lights originally had four-centred
heads; the lower lights are now square-headed;
the mullions, heads and jambs, of wood, are
moulded and chamfered and the upper lights
have sunk spandrels. The heavy timber-framing of the lower storey is visible at this end,
and above the window the gabled upper storey
projects and is partly supported by heavy curved
brackets.
The N.W. Elevation of the S.E. range, facing
the yard, has an old gable over the archway
with heavy timber-framing; the rest of this
elevation has been almost entirely re-faced or
re-built with brick, but at the N.E. end the overhanging upper storey retains some of the original timber-framing.
The other Elevations have been much altered.
Interior:—The hall is divided into two bays
by heavy, moulded wall-posts, with curved
brackets, in the S.W. and N.E. walls, and there
is a third post in the window: they support
two moulded ceiling-beams which cross each
other at right angles and mitre with the
moulded wall-plate: the back of the wall-post
in the N. corner of the hall can be seen by
means of a trap-door; it has a curved bracket
on the N.W. side, showing that the hall
originally extended in that direction: the fireplace is much scraped or modern. In the window is a considerable quantity of original
glass, consisting of fragments of the figures of
angels holding shields, on some of which are
the arms of Henry VI. and his wife, Margaret
of Anjou; the symbol of the Evangelist St. Mark
also appears, with a scroll on which is the name
'Marcus' in black-letter; many of the original
quarries are ornamented with flower designs,
some with a covered cup and some with the
Bohun swan. The roof of the rooms over the
archway has been enclosed in plaster; the trusses
are of the queen-post type with some form of
angle-braces to the tie-beams, but all detail is
now hidden.
Condition—Good; very much altered.
(116). The White Horse Inn, is of two
storeys. It was built in the 16th century,
probably on a rectangular plan, but has been
enlarged. The front is covered with modern
plaster, and the walls at the back have been
almost entirely re-faced. The roof is tiled. On
the ground floor is a wide, open fireplace containing a large spit, which is worked by a fan
in the chimney, and on the wall of the dining-room a 16th-century inscription in black-letter
has been recently uncovered. The roof is of
double queen-post construction, and has been
heightened.
Condition—Good.
E. side
(117). The Bull's Head Hotel, is of two
storeys, and was built in the 17th century; the
plan is of half-H shape, with the wings projecting towards the E. The main block was
almost entirely re-built with brick in the 18th
century, and is now covered with cement; some
of the original timber-framing remains at the
back. The wings have been altered, enlarged
and covered with cement. The roofs are tiled.
In the yard at the back of the house is a
rectangular Barn, of two storeys, built of timber and brick and probably contemporary with
the house; the roof is tiled.
Condition—Of hotel, good; of barn, poor.
(118). The Crown Hotel, at the corner of the
High Street and the Market Square, was built
early in the 16th century and almost completely
re-built at the end of the 18th century. The
remains of the original house consist of a rectangular block of two storeys, facing the Market
Square, built of timber and brick; the roof is
tiled. In front the overhanging upper storey
is original, timber-framed, with filling now
plastered; it is supported by a heavy moulded
bressumer, but was partly under-built, or the
lower storey encased with brick in the 19th
century. Inside the house a large chamfered
joist is visible in the ceiling of the ground
floor.
Condition—Good.
Cambridge Street, N.W. side
(119). Outhouse, at the back of Nos. 6 and 8,
is a rectangular 17th-century building, timber-framed with brick filling, and now much
altered. The roof is covered with tiles and is of
plain collar-beam construction.
Condition—Poor.
(120). The Barley-corn Inn, is of two storeys,
probably timber-framed, but now covered
thickly with cement. The roofs are tiled. It
appears to have been built in the 16th or 17th
century, and the long low street front, with two
gables, probably retains its original form, but
all the details are modern.
Condition—Good; much altered.
(121). House, No. 44, is a late 17th-century
building of two storeys and an attic. The walls
are of brick; the roof is tiled. It forms, with
some outbuildings, a long range at right angles
to the street, and has, at the back, a small wing
containing offices. The roof is ridged from
end to end, with a gable facing the street. A
few old windows remain, with solid frames and
metal casements.
Condition—Good.
S.E. side
(122). House, of two storeys and an attic,
built late in the 16th or early in the 17th century, with a small one-storeyed building of
uncertain date, now a shop (Nos. 9 and 11),
adjoining the E. end. The walls are timber-framed, with brick filling; the roofs are tiled.
The plan of the house is rectangular, with two
rooms on each floor, and a central chimney
stack. The first floor is reached only by a
ladder and the staircase to the attic is not
original.
Condition—Poor.
(123). Cottage, divided into two tenements,
Nos. 5 and 7, in Upper Hundreds, is of two
storeys, built in the 17th century. The plan
is rectangular, and the original building was
probably a long low range, constructed of mud
bricks, with some timber-framing and a continuous thatched roof. In the 19th century
the walls were partly re-built with brick, and
the western half of the cottage was raised and
roofed with slate.
Condition—Not very good.
Walton Street, W. side
(124). Cottage, a 17th-century building of
two storeys. The walls are covered with plaster,
but a little original brick and timber is visible
in the gable at each end; the roof is tiled.
Condition—Good.
(125). Barn, S. of Brook Street, was built in
the 17th century. It is of two storeys, partly
of brick, and partly timber-framed with brick
filling; the roof is tiled.
Condition—Good.
(126). Cottage, now three tenements, opposite the brewery, is of late 17th-century date.
It is of two storeys, built of brick, with timbers
in the gable at each end. The roof is tiled.
Condition—Fairly good.
E. side
(127). The White Swan Inn, is of two
storeys, built probably late in the 17th century,
but re-faced with modern brick and the W.
front covered with plaster. The roof is tiled.
Two chimneys are of old thin bricks. On the
ground floor an open fireplace remains, and in
one ceiling is a chamfered beam.
Condition—Good, much restored.
(128). The Bear Inn, is of two storeys, built
probably in the 17th century. The walls have
been almost entirely re-faced with modern
brick, but some 17th-century brick remains;
the roof is tiled. On the ground floor is an open
fireplace, and one ceiling has a chamfered
beam.
Condition—Fairly good.
(129). House, S. of Holy Trinity Church, is
of two storeys, built probably in the 17th century. The walls have been entirely re-faced,
but one room retains a wide, open fireplace and
an open timber ceiling.
Condition—Much altered.
Walton Road, N.W. side
(130–131). Cottage, No. 9, and House forming three tenements, Nos. 11, 13 and 15. The
cottage is of two storeys and the house of two
storeys and an attic. They were built of red
brick, in Flemish bond, c. 1700; the roofs are
tiled. The house has a mansard roof with flat-topped dormer windows. The other windows
have segmental arches of brick, and a few
original metal casements remain.
Condition—Fairly good.
(132). Cottage, now three tenements, Nos.
35, 37, and 39, is of two storeys, built early in
the 17th century, of timber and brick, now
whitewashed; the roof is tiled. The plan is
rectangular, with two chimney stacks, and at
the N.E. end is an addition of later date. The
street front has a low plinth of red brick, and
the timber-framing retains a few diagonal
braces.
Condition—Fairly good.
(133). Outhouse, part of a disused Malting,
and parts of the Garden Walls at Walton
House, are all of the 17th century. The house
was re-built in the 18th century; S.E. of it is
a small rectangular Outhouse of two storeys,
timber-framed, with brick filling, and much
restored in the 18th century; the roof is tiled.
The Malting, facing the Walton Road, includes
a house with a barn attached to it, built in
the first half of the 17th century. The house
is of two storeys, built partly of brick,
and partly timber-framed and weather-boarded; the plan is rectangular; a large
covered archway connects the house with the
barn, which is also rectangular, and is partly
timber-framed, with weather-boarding and
brick filling, and partly of brick; the roofs
are tiled. The buildings appear to have been
converted into a malting in the 18th century, when a kiln and drying-floors were
added, forming a long L-shaped addition at the
back. The front of the house has three weather-boarded gables, and the upper storey projects;
the lower storey has been re-built in brick. Two
original windows remain at the back, with
wooden frames, iron casements, and much corroded iron fastenings. N.W. of the house, in
the brick Wall surrounding the garden, is a
blocked gateway with rusticated piers; on it is
the date 1674. In the wall separating the
malt-yard from the garden are two recesses,
with four-centred straight-sided heads, flanked
by pilasters, of slight projection, surmounted
by dises.
Condition—Of outhouse, good; of malting,
poor; of garden walls, fairly good.
(134). Farmhouse, No. 89, is of two storeys,
built early in the 17th century, of timber and
brick; the roof is tiled. The plan is L-shaped,
but the original arrangement is uncertain. The
street front has been heavily covered with
rough-cast, but a curvilinear gable at the S.E.
end is possibly an alteration made in the second
half of the 17th century. The back has been
much re-built or re-faced with brick, but the
original timber-framing remains in the gable
at the N.W. end. Inside the house some of the
old studding and the rough timbers of the roof
are visible on the first floor.
Among the extensive farm buildings are two
large barns, both on stone foundations, with
framing of rough-adzed timbers and weather-boarded walls. One barn has a thatched roof,
and may be of an earlier date than the house;
the second has a tiled roof, and is possibly of
a later date than the other.
Condition—Of house and barns, good.
S.E. side
(135). Walton Grange, is a two storeyed
house, built of timber and brick in the 16th
century, now almost entirely covered with
rough-cast or tile-hanging; the roofs are tiled.
The plan was originally L-shaped, with the
internal angle of the L facing W. In the
19th century a modern wing was added at the
E. corner, and the main block appears to have
been extended towards the S.W. On the N.W.
front is a porch with an upper storey supported
on turned wood posts, and part of the upper
storey of the main block projects. The N. wing
has an overhanging upper storey, and in the
N.E. wall is some original timber-framing. The
S.E. elevation has a projecting semi-circular
staircase, apparently modern, but covered with
ivy. The large central chimney stack is
original, with square shafts, restored at the
top. In the kitchen is a chamfered beam with
moulded stops which probably show the position
of the original S.W. wall.
The coach house and stable adjoining the
S.W. end of the house were built also in the
16th century, and form a rectangular block.
The walls are timber-framed, except the lower
part of the N.W. side, which is of stone rubble,
and has four buttresses. The S.W. end is
modern; the timber-framing of the other walls
is much restored, and all the brick filling is
modern. The roof is tiled.
Condition—Good, much restored and altered.
Unclassified
(136). Entrenchment, possibly fragment of
a manorial work, near the railway, N.W. of
Walton Court.