19 College Street, Higham Ferrers, Northamptionshire: Archaeological Building Record

building archaeological building recording to include a level 2 photographic survey Planning consent (17/01766/LBC) granted for alterations to the Grade II listed house at 19 College Street, Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire, included a condition requiring archaeological building recording. Albion Archaeology was commissioned by the owners to prepare a Written Scheme of Investigation and to undertake the building recording. The front range of the house, on the street frontage, dates from the mid and late 18th century with the northernmost bay being a late-18th century addition. The form of the house with a wide frontage, a central entrance hall and fireplaces in the end walls is a plan form which came into widespread used during the 18th century. The first floor rooms in the front range have 18th-century doors and doorcases. It is unclear if there was a rear range to the building during the 18th; a two-storey section in limestone at the west end of the rear range could be of this date. In the 19th century work was carried out to the ground floor rooms and all of the doors and doorcases in the ground floor of the front range date from this time. The brick-built section of the rear range dates from the 19th century although the evidence of the floor beams suggests it may incorporate the remains of an earlier, narrower structure. A large barn attached to the west end of the house was built during the 19th century. Observations during construction of a new door opening between the barn and rear range showed that the barn post-dates the limestone structure at the west end of the rear range.