Building record 1158500000 - 56 HIGH STREET

Grade II. House. C17, altered. Timber frame with brick infill, partly herringbone, whitewashed to front. Blackened rubble stone plinth. Thatched roof, half-hipped to left. Rebuilt brick chimney between left bays. 1½ storeys, 3 bays. Leaded casements, 2-light to ground floor left, remainder 3-light. Ground floor windows have thick wooden frames, first floor windows are in thatch. Lobby entry with board door between left bays. Left bay also has blocked opening with moulded brick open pediment above. C19 extension to right is of whitewashed brick with slate roof, brick chimney, C20 leaded casements, and board door to left. Interior: left bay has stop-chamfered spine beam, the fireplace end on a carved wooden bracket with a heart inscribed ER, and dated 1675. Inserted staircase incorporating some C18 parts. Moulded stone fireplace in extension. RCHM II p. 313-4 Mon.1 (B1).
In 1872 the Wheatsheaf was recorded as having been licenced for over 50 years. The licencee was William Simmons and the owner was E M M Lucas of Rowsham (B2).

(SP 81291841. The Wheatsheaf sited to 56, High Street from authy.2 and OS 1:2500 1981.)

The Wheatsheaf Inn is of the central chimney type, probably built early in the C17th, the date '1675' on a bracket inside the house
possibly referring to repairs. The original brick filling in the walls set in a herringbone pattern and has been patched with plain brickwork. The roof is half-hipped with low dormer windows. Condition - Fairly good (B3).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.