100 High Street, Cromwell House

  • c. 1900. Cromwell House
  • c. 1909. Cromwell House from Country Series 475 collection
  • Cromwell House, date not known
  • Walter Brazell, blacksmith at Cromwell House with thatched cottage, the predecessor building at 109 High Street, in the background
  • 1985. Cromwell House
  • Rear view of Cromwell House pre 1996
  • Rear view of Cromwell House
  • Sale brochure from 2014
  • 2018. Cromwell House
  • 2019. Cromwell House
  • Cromwell House
Archive Notes:

6 photos from present time back to around 1900. The Country series postcard is similar to the Hinton Collection one at 1554. Plan showing the acquisition in 1852 is found at archive number 1751. See also archive number 0969 for the rear part fronting Crown Square.

There is said to be oblique reference in a deed of Fryday Cottage from the time of William and Mary (1689-1702) that the owners of this house owned other properties nearby including Cromwell House. A later addition is evident from the High Street frontage. It was originally thatched (part of the old roof structure remains) and its (much higher) roof space is alleged to have been used as a scarlet fever isolation hospital. Comments in the parish register reveal that there was scarlet fever there in 1863, and smallpox in 1865. The upper floor is said to have been used in the tanning business for the drying of skins, and later to have been used by a tailor. There is a panelled cupboard door on the first floor. This panelling has 2 pegs top and bottom of the rail which indicates 18C. The hinges are plain ‘H’ type which dates them to the second half of the 18C. This is said to have come from Holton Park (demolished 1805) where Cromwell’s daughter was married, hence the name of the house. So it is possible that this came from that house – or, simply, that this was a feature in the house already at that date.  Sold by a fellmonger in 1849 for private housing, with the plan that shows the buildings fronting Crown Square (including a Gig House), with the access from High Street.

Listed building details state 'House. Late C17/ early C18 and later. Coursed squared limestone rubble with timber lintels; part old plain-tile roof and brick stacks. L-plan. 2 storeys plus attics. 2-window front has 6-panel door between 2-light casements with similar windows at first floor. Added bay to left has no openings to front but has entrance in return wall. Earlier range has flanking stacks. Rear has central plank door and irregular casements. Upper part of wall is brick with second-floor windows. Half-hipped rear gable to wing. Interior: 2 open fireplaces with chamfered bressumers, one with herringbone brickwork fireback; chamfered beam with ogee stops. Formerly a through-passage plan'.

In the background of the photograph of blacksmith Walter Brazell is a thatched cottage, which was the predecessor building at 109 High Street, see archive number 1201.

The deeds are in a black box, summary is an atachment.

Archive Number: