Building record 727/0/64 - No.181 Watling Street West

Shop and dwelling. C17, altered C20. Timber-framed, C20 plain-tile roof, brick end stack. Dendrochronology dating suggests a construction date of 1604.

{1} Shop and dwelling. C17, altered C20. Timber-framed, C20 plain-tile roof, brick end stack. 2-unit plan, 2-storey, 2-window range. Ground floor much altered and rebuilt C20 with C20 shop window and door. Close-studded first floor with 3-light leaded bay windows. Interior not inspected.

{3} A two-bay timber-framed building now used as a butcher’s shop. Timber framing only survives on the -floor and roof space. The front of the building still exhibits close studding and the tie-beamed roof trusses have diminished principals at the apex with bridle joints, two collars and two rows of threaded purlins. There are no wind braces. A projecting rear lateral stack in stone served a ground floor inglenook fireplace on the west side of the building. Scarf joints on the purlins and laths on both sides of a gable truss suggest that 181 was the centre of a row of at least three buildings erected at the same time. The front elevation has the addition of a tiled pent roof, known to date back from at least the mid 19th century, which is level with the first- floor, projecting approximately 1m over the pavement and supported by 3 timber posts. There is documentary evidence indicating that a row of three buildings was rebuilt on the site in the first half of the 15th century.
Six timbers were sampled from roof members. Three samples dated, and two with sapwood were confidently shown to have been felled in the summers of 1602 and 1603 suggesting a probable construction date of 1604.

{5} Undated photo;

{6} Photo dated 26th May 1963;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 13/191 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F08 p.86 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Giggins B.; Conlon R., 2011, Towcester and Potterspury Dendrochronology Assessment, p.2 (checked) (Report). SNN107444.

<4> CLASP, 2005-12, CLASP (Community Landscape and Archaeology Survey Project) Newsletter, Issue 14 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN108402.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Towcester (Photographs). SNN114425.

<6> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Mar 5 2025 10:11AM