Building record 1256103000 - ROALD DAHL MUSEUM, 81 & 83 HIGH STREET

Grade II. C17 refronted early C19. Rendered and painted; old tiled roof. Two storeys, carriage arch in centre with sash window in gable over. Door to No 81 on left with pilasters and cornice, modern casement on left, sash on right and three sash windows to first floor. Plain door to No 83 on right. Modern window on left of it, sash window on right and two sash windows to first floor. Timber-framing visible within carriage arch. Formerly Buckingham Arms Inn (B1).
Building recording carried out by AS&C in July and September 2003, prior to conversion of buildings to museum and exhibition centre, identified numerous changes to plan since 16th century west range built. See report for detail (B2).
Test-pitting around the buildings and courtyard were excavated in advance of demolition and refurbishment works. At the east end of the courtyard the test pits showed made ground to a depth of 2m where a chalkpit had been backfilled. Test-pits in the north and south ranges revealed 19th century wall footings for the standing buildings. One slightly earlier wall footing of late 18th or early 19th century date was found below the present south wall (B3).