Building record 727/0/69 - Nos.12 & 14 Park Street

Pair of houses. C18 in two builds. Coursed squared ironstone, plain-tile roofs, brick end and ridge stacks. Dendrochronological evidence suggests that No 12 was constructed in AD 1748 or AD1749, or within a year or two after this date.

{1} Pair of houses. C18 in two builds. Coursed squared ironstone, plain-tile roofs, brick end and ridge stacks. No. 12 has 2-unit plan; No.14 a one-unit plan. 2 storeys and attic; 4-window range. No. 12 has central part-glazed 6-panel door in moulded wood surround with stone lintel and keyblock, and straight hood on brackets. Sash windows to ground and first floor with stone lintels and keyblocks. No.14 to left is later in date and has C19 part-glazed door with flat-arched head and small canted bay window to left. C19 horned sash window to first floor with flat-arched head. Rendered plinth to No.12. Ogee moulded stone eaves and 3 hipped roof dormers. Interior: No.14 has stop-chamfered spine beams and fitted cupboard with shaped shelves and old doors with HL hinges. No.12 has open fireplace with replacement bressumer, fine fitted corner cupboard with scalloped semi-domed head and shaped shelves, eared timber fireplace surround, dog-leg staircase with turned balusters, panelled partitions and collar-truss roof.

{3} Seven samples were taken from principal rafters and purlins in the roof of 12 Park Street. Only one
sample retained complete sapwood, but one had complete sapwood detached from the main core, with few or no rings lost, allowing a narrow felling date range to be applied. Two other samples, which were later found to have come from the same parent tree, also lost a few rings on coring, and also allowed a narrow felling date range to be applied. The dendrochronological evidence therefore suggests construction in AD 1748 or AD1749, or within a year or two after this date

{4} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 13/140 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F08 p.66 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Bridge, M and Tyers, C, 2020, 12 Park Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire: Tree-ring Analysis of Oak Timbers (Report). SNN112252.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Towcester (Photographs). SNN114425.

Record last edited

Jan 18 2023 11:26AM