Building record 2881/0/15 - Nos.35 & 37 West Street

A 17th century house situated on the western side of West Street. The house is constructed of squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof. The house was a three unit plan with a crosswing with ashlar gable parapets. The house also retains a 17th century blocked door with a four-centred arch. The building was divided into two dwellings and was remodelled during the early 19th century.

{1} House, now 2 dwellings. C17 remodelled early C19. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate roof. Originally probably 3-unit plan with cross wing. 2 storeys. Irregular 3-window range. 5-light, ovolo-moulded stone mullion, canted bay window, to far left. Canted bay continues at first floor and has a C19 casement window, with slated roof over. Other windows are C19 and C20 casements under wood and stone lintels. Stone hood-mould over centre window. C20 door, to right of centre, has plain ashlar surround. Lean-to porch, to far left, abuts bay window and has a plank door under wood lintel. Bay, to left of centre, breaks forward slightly. Ashlar gable parapets to cross wing, at far left. Gabled roof over other 2 bays is separate from cross wing, with ashlar stacks at ends. Outbuilding attached to right now forms part of house. Rear elevation has a gabled eaves dormer, to far right, with 2-light, ovolo-moulded stone mullion window. Similar 3-light stone mullion window, to centre also a 2-light window with chamfered mullions. C17 doorway, now blocked, with 4-centred arch-head, to right. Several C20 windows. Interior not inspected, but probably has open fireplaces, now blocked.


{5}The earliest available reference to 37 West Street is during the Inclosure of the parish in 1817-1819. The award and the accompanying map (NRO Ref 2895) record the village core in detail as well as landownership. The map shows that there was a single range along the entire frontage at this date. The house was in the ownership of the Duncomb family at this date and remained in the family until its sale in 2013.

In No 37, the bay to the left had a stone mullion window to the ground and first floors at the start of the 20th century. Evidence of the removed mullioned windows can still be seen with the crude cement mortar repairs to the current window reveal. There are ashlar quoins on the northernmost corner of this bay and a straight joint between it and that to the north, suggesting the bay to the north is a later addition. Interestingly, the former attached outbuilding at the north of this range is built of the same coloured stone as the earliest phase, indicating that the bay in between may have been an infill building.

Internally, the house has clearly undergone significant 19th century alteration and re-modelling as result there is, essentially little of architectural significance remaining, but there are a number of ambiguities of structure and plan which hint at its complex history. There is a blocked opening on the southernmost wall of the passage (to the right as the exterior door is entered), this indicates that 35 and 37 were originally interconnected and probably a single dwelling.

{6} Building recording of 37 was undertaken after stripping out of most of the modern wall and floor coverings and fittings. A large flagstone floor was revealed in the main northern room of 37, dated by a 1909 penny found in the sub-base under one of the flagstones. The initials 'WD' were found carved in two places near the north-western door into the dwelling; one could read 'WD 1830'. William Duncomb was known to have lived here in the earlier 19th-century during a period when much alteration was carried out.

{7} Undated photo;

{1, 8} The site of a 17th century house. The house is constructed of squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof. The house was a three unit plan with a crosswing with ashlar gable parapets. The house also retains a 17th century blocked door with a four-centred arch. The building was divided into two dwellings and was remodelled during the early 19th century. The building is Grade II listed. (1-2)

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 11/86 (12-OCT-1988) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.60 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77384.

<4> 1820, Easton on the Hill Inclosure Map 15 (NRO Map 2895; BEO M399), (unchecked) (Map). SNN102482.

<5> Richards, G., 2015, An Archaeological Standing Building Survey & Rapid Building Appraisal of 35 & 37 West Street, Easton on the Hill, Northamptonshire, 2015 (Report). SNN110595.

<6> Meckseper, C. and Carlyle, S., 2018, 37 West Street, Easton on the Hill, Northants: A programme of archaeological monitoring and recording, p. 12 (Report). SNN111428.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Easton On The Hill (Photographs). SNN111661.

<8> Historic England, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments- Building File, BF084091- 35-37 WEST STREET, EASTON ON THE HILL (Oral Report). SNN71057.

<9> Historic England, Undated, 35-37 WEST STREET, EASTON ON THE HILL, BF084091- 35-37 WEST STREET, EASTON ON THE HILL (Archive). SNN114563.

Record last edited

Jan 10 2023 9:00AM