Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1367 to 1890 No 8 High Street

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Medieval to Modern - 1367 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TR 15 NW 242:
(TR 14905783- sited from 1:1250 1974). No 8 High Street, Canterbury. A medieval timber-framed building. Measured drawings were made in 1977 in advance of restoration work. Some detail may indicate a 14th century date. (1) Late C14, C18 and circa 1870. Grade II. This is included for its late C14 timber-framed core. The front elevation is part of a terracebuilt soon after a fire of 1865, which is not in itself listable. High St facade of 4 storeys cement rendered. Bracket eaves cornice and pilasters. 3 sashes cornice and brackets to 2nd floor windows and round-headed arches with keystones to 1st floor. Later shopfront.Behind this is the framing of a late C14 3 storeyed double-jettied house with cellar containing niche below. This was of 3 bays, set endwise to the street and the hall was probably in the middle bay most of the framing remains, together with bronze C17 posts. The elevation is of 3 storeys and was altered in the C18, the ground floor being underbuilt in brick, the upper floors rendered. This has 2 sashes with glazing bars intact and a ground floor canted bay and doorcase with rectangular fanlight. On the 2nd storey are 2 original medieval windows with holes for window bars and sliding shutter grooves. Around these windows is the original C15 yellow brick infill. (2) Timber-framed medieval building. Altered in 19th century. (3) 8 High Street. Most of the timber-frame of a very large late medievalbuilding survives buried inside a dull 19th century facade. Many buildings on this side of the High Street were destroyed by fire in 1865 but only the badly burned roof of No 8 had to be replaced. (4)

The Canterbury UAD states that in 1977 The Canterbury Archaeological Trust examined the structure of 8 High Street during restoration work to the rear of the building and produced a 1:50 partial survey. Behind a 19th century façade were parts of a large late Medieval timber-framed, double-jettied building. A fire in 1865 had meant the replacement of the roof though three of the original tie-beams had survived. Unfortunately much of the timber-frame is still covered up so apart from the roof where a plan drawing could be made only small sections of the frame were visible. At the rear of the building, the whole of the first floor outer wall was exposed by the building work and this showed many points of interest such as the original brick infill and the position of some of the original windows.

In 1992 The Canterbury Archaeological Trust undertook a measured survey of early fabric within 8, High Street during repairs at the property after a fire. Oak joists and timbers of a Medieval building were revealed behind a plain 19th century façade. The original building had comprised a large double-jettied two storey structure set 'end-on' to the street. The second floor was divided into 5 bays and was almost certainly covered by a crown-post roof which had been replaced after an earlier fire in 1865. Evidence was also seen for an earlier stone structure, possibly 13th century, preceeding the Medieval one.

The structure appears to be a late medieval shop with accommodation above, the shop was recently used by Dewhurst Butchers, and suvives to the west of the Checker Building.

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
1. 944 HIGH STREET (North East Side)
No 8 TR 1457 NE 4/751
II
2. Late C14, C18 and circa 1870. This is included for its late C14 timber-framed core. The front elevation is part of a. tgrrace built soon after a fire of 1865, which is not in itself listable. High Street facade of 4 storeys cement rendered. Bracket eaves cornice and pilasters. 3 sashes cornice and brackets to 2nd floor windows and round-headed arches with keystones to 1st floor. Later shopfront. Behind this is the framing of a late C14 3 storeyed double-jettied house with cellar containing niche below. This was of 3 bays, set endwise to the street and the hall was probably in the middle bay most of the framing remains, together with bronze Cl7 posts. The rear elevation is of 3 storeys and was altered in the C18, the ground floor being underbuilt in brick, the upper floors rendered. This has 2 sashes with glazing bars intact and a ground floor canted bay and doorcase with rectangular fanlight. On the 2nd storey are 2 original mediaeval windows with holes for window bars and sliding shutter grooves. Around these windows is. the original C15 yellow brick infill.
Listing NGR: TR1491257839 (5)

Additional bibliography (6-8)

<1> Arch Cant 93 1977 217-218 (T Tatton-Brown) (OS Card Reference). SKE36134.

<2> DOE (HHR) City of Canterbury Sept 1973 98 Addendum (OS Card Reference). SKE40157.

<3> Hist Bldgs Survey Canterbury City Council/RCHME 57026 2 of 4 (OS Card Reference). SKE43805.

<4> CAT Ann Rep 1977-8 10-11 (OS Card Reference). SKE38654.

<5> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<6> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1991, The Pilgrim Inns of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE30157.

<7> Tatton-Brown, T., 1978, 8 High Street, Canterbury (Article in serial). SKE30915.

<8> Austin, R., 1993, 8 High Street, Canterbury (Article in serial). SKE30916.

Sources and further reading