Building record 727/0/113 - No.8 Watling Street East

Early 18th-century house with 19th and 20th century alterations and additions. Coursed squared ironstone, old plain-tile roof, brick end stacks. Now converted to flats

{1} House, now flats. Early C18, with C19 and C20 alterations and additions. Coursed squared ironstone, old plain-tile roof, brick end stacks. 3-unit plan. 2 storeys and attic; 3-window range. Central 4-panel door in C20 brick surround, flanked by 12-pane sash window with wood lintels. Tripartite sashes to ground floor left and right, both with wood lintels. 16-pane sashes to first floor except for C20 replacement window to first floor centre, all with wood lintels. Chamfered plinth, storey band, stone-coped gables with kneelers and one roof dormer. Interior not inspected.

{3}Early 18th century, with 19th and 20th century alterations. 3-unit plan. 2 storeys and attic; 3-window range.

{4} Level 2 building recording was carried out prior to convert the property from multiple occupancy to self-contained flats. Remodelling is evident particularly within the house, but the external walls and original roof structure survives in good condition, which are indicative of a date for construction around 1700. The original front elevation was symmetrical with a central entrance and two windows either side, with five windows on the first floor. This was later altered with the blocking of windows, creation of new windows and introduction of new internal partitions. A second range on the road frontage to the north was added in the 18th century and another, brick-built range, to the rear of the house in the early 19th century. A further large, brick-built, range was added to the rear in the 1850s-70s, substantially enlarging the house. Refurbishment of the original house also seems to have been undertaken during this period.

{5} In the late 1820s the house was listed for sale, and included a tanyard with back-houses, drying sheds, stables and offices with a dwelling house, garden, large yard, stables, barns, malt-kiln, hovels and an acre of meadow.

{6} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 13/151 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.70 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN40891.

<4> Wilson, L. Collins, T & Henry, K., 2015, 8 Watling Street East, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Historic Building Recording, Level 2 (Report). SNN111663.

<5> Giggins, B., 2013, Historic Towcester Survey: 8 Watling Street chronology (Report). SNN111664.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Towcester (Photographs). SNN114425.

Record last edited

Nov 30 2022 2:14PM