SNN111479 - Historic Building Recording of No. 1 Church Street (Market House), Brigstock, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 3EX

Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited was commissioned by Mark Wilkinson to undertake Level 3 building recording of no. 1 Church Street (Market House), Brigstock, Northamptonshire during alterations as a condition of planning permission. The house is a Grade II listed building and lies in the Brigstock Conservation Area. The list description ascribes a probable mid 17th century date for the building with two periods of remodelling and alteration during the 18th and 19th centuries. Whilst this is essentially correct as the building does retain much evidence of mid 17th century and later remodelling, the former is at very least secondary and undertaken to ‘modernise’ and improve an existing later medieval house, comprising an open hall and cross-wing. The western cross-wing was laid out over three or four bays and over two storeys. The use of deeply chamfered binding joists to support the first floor structures and common first floor joists, laid flat section but of lighter scantling would both suggest a late 16th or early 17th century date. There was no internal access between the cross-wing and the hall at first floor level. The roof structure over the cross-wing, now fossilised below its later reworking, is a side purlin roof. The ceilings were formerly higher above the first floor chambers, providing lofty hall-like rooms of some status. The cross-wing is abutted to the east by a former open hall entered through an ornate doorway. A cruck blade (typically medieval in date and starting to dwindle out by the 16th century) delineates the eastern extent of the hall. A narrow bay to the east of the cruck, may be interpreted as a cross passage, a feature characteristic of hall house plans. The next phase (2) saw major changes to the internal layout of the house, with the insertion of a large inglenook fireplace, a new first floor and winder staircase into the former open hall. A binding joist embellished with ornate stopped chamfers of a 17th century date stopped short of the far wall (east) where it would have been supported by the inglenook fireplace. The insertion of the inglenook fireplace and chimneystack into the hall, resulted in the re-use of one side of the cruck. The insertion of the chimneystack into the hall, creating a ‘backing onto entry plan’, and its re-flooring, is a feature common to many halls during the 17th century. The inserted floor, built using much lighter scantling deep section joists, compared with those in the cross wing was reached via a winder stair with mid 17th century splat balusters. Following the insertion of the floor into the hall, the hall and cross-wing were connected at first floor via a small doorway. The cross-wing was also built with gable fireplaces at this date. The next period of alteration (phase 3) occurs in the 18th century with the subdivision of the hall to create a parlour and insertion of an internal stud wall within the cross wing. The creation of the parlour and its refurbishment saw the addition of a corner display cupboard with classical motifs and plain panelled cupboards with 18th century hinges. The 19th century saw great change to the appearance and internal layout of the building. The roof over the rear range (hall) was rebuilt to a slacker pitch following the heightening of the elevations, to provide a full first floor in place of an attic storey and was re-covered with blue slate. Many of the windows were re-fenestrated. No. 5 Church Street was extended to the rear with the addition of a brick extension during the 19th century. Internally, the inglenook fireplace was removed from the parlour to create more space. The basement was excavated during the 19th or early 20th century. Later additions, apart from some re-placement of windows, is the creation of a first floor small WC. The building survives as a good example of a late medieval hall and cross wing building which has been altered, improved and adapted to taste and use over a period of 400 to 500 years. The survey provided a glimpse into its development and establishes a plan form, which could well be refined in the future, based on the possibility of a second cross-wing or a longer hall, adjoining to the east or even, given the presence of a cruck, an earlier medieval origin. This hall and cross wing clearly merits its listed status and is particularly notable for the survival of its 17th century winder staircase and the many historic fittings, doors, hinges etc, so frequently lost.