Building record 727/0/54 - No.171 Watling Street West

Late 18th century building with 20th century shop front. Possibly incorporates elements of an earlier public house.

{1} Shop and dwelling. Late C18 with C20 alterations. Red brick in Flemish bond, painted, slate roof and brick end stack. 3-unit plan. 2-storey, 3-window range. Double-leaf 4-panel door to left with segmental-arched brick head. C20 shop front and door. 12-pane sash windows to first floor with flat-arched brick heads. Moulded wood eaves.

{2} Shop and dwelling, late 18th with 20th alterations. 3-unit plan. 2-storey, 3-window range. 20th shop front.

{3} Brief observation during roof repairs. The building does contain some early fabric. A closed roof truss was revealed with principals that crossed at the top and housed a ridge piece. These supported a single row of purlins on each side. These suggest a C16th or C17th date. It is possible that the brick frontage replaces or masks a timber framed structure of four bays.

{4} Plans and photos; in 1685 the plot was occupied by John Linnell, described as an innholder; landlord of an inn known as the 'White Lion Inn' subsequently 'The Labour in Vain'. Largely rebuilt during the late 18th century and in the early 19th century it was in use as an ironmonger's shop, the business later expanding to include a stationer's and printer's. In the mid 19th century it became a grocer's and remained so until the late 20th century.

{5} Additional photographs after opening up;

{6} Observations made whilst the building was being 'stripped out'. Observation of the timbers in the attic storey suggests that the central and southern bays were once part of the same building and that the south bay was an open hall (smoke-blackening of timbers). The northern bay was a later addition. From the carpentry the earlier building would date to the 15th or early 16th century.

{7} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 13/188 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F08 p.85 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Giggins B., 2011, 171 Watling Street, Towcester, (checked) (Note). SNN107592.

<4> Feldon, D., 2015, 171 Watling Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Historic Building Record, Level 2- descriptive record, Revision B (Report). SNN111213.

<5> Feldon, D., 2013, 171 Watling Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Historic Building Record, Level 2- descriptive record (Report). SNN110679.

<6> Conlon R., 2015, 171 Watling Street, Towcester: Archaeological Monitoring Report (Report). SNN111214.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Towcester (Photographs). SNN114425.

Record last edited

Nov 30 2022 2:35PM