Regent and Warwick House
Encyclopedia
Regent House and Warwick House together form a large timber-framed
building, probably dating from the late 16th century, in Nantwich
, Cheshire
, England. Regent House occupies numbers 12 and 14, and Warwick House numbers 16 and 18a, on the west side of the High Street (at and ); Regent House occupies a bend in the street which reflects the town's Norman
castle. The building was probably constructed shortly after the fire of 1583. Regent House and Warwick House are listed separately at grade II.
High Street was the home of the wealthiest townspeople in the 1580s, and the houses dating from the rebuilding form the finest examples of post-fire architecture in the town. The modern street still contains many other good examples of Elizabethan
timber-framed buildings, all of which date from after the fire; these include the Queen's Aid House
, number 46
and the grade-I-listed Crown Inn
.
Nantwich Castle
. Built before 1180, the castle is believed to have been located on slightly elevated ground between the River Weaver
and the modern High Street and Castle Street, probably near the Crown Inn
. The castle was last recorded in 1462.
The existing Regent and Warwick House is believed to have been built shortly after the 1583 fire, which destroyed all the buildings on the west side of High Street, together with much of the town east of the River Weaver. The stretch of the High Street running between the river and what is now the town square included four of the seven inns destroyed by the fire: the Crown, the principal inn of the town; the Bell, a major inn with 17 beds; the Cock, site of cock-fighting
; and the Bear, which kept four bears for bear-baiting
. There was also a butcher's shop and a smithy.
The building was updated in the late 18th century. Sash window
s were added, and the original triangular gable
s were replaced by a section with timber uprights which imitated the parapet
s of late Georgian
townhouses. The timberwork on the first storey of Warwick House was later covered with roughcast
.
Regent House housed the Regent Cycle Stores in around 1900, and later the cycle manufacturer's, Raven Cycle Co. In the 1990s it was an estate agent's and, from 1999, an independent furniture retailers. , it is used as a charity shop. In 1914, Warwick House was the premises of William Johnson, a "hosier, glover & draper & ladies' & children's outfitter". It has been a chemist's shop since the late 20th century.
, black-and-white building, constructed around the corner of the street. It has three storeys, each of which have jetties
, under a tiled roof. The exterior has close studding
on the first and second storeys. There is a middle rail on the first storey and two horizontal timbers on the second storey, which was substantially altered in the 18th century. The timbering is covered with roughcast
on the first storey of Warwick House.
Regent House retains eight of the original wooden mullion
ed windows on the first and second floors, which alternate with 18th-century sash window
s. The main doorway of Regent House is on the corner and is flanked by columns. Warwick House has an 18th-century doorway to the right side of the façade; its windows are all 18th-century sashes. The ground floor is occupied with shop fronts, which date from the 19th or 20th century on Regent House, and are modern on Warwick House.
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
building, probably dating from the late 16th century, in Nantwich
Nantwich
Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England. Regent House occupies numbers 12 and 14, and Warwick House numbers 16 and 18a, on the west side of the High Street (at and ); Regent House occupies a bend in the street which reflects the town's Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
castle. The building was probably constructed shortly after the fire of 1583. Regent House and Warwick House are listed separately at grade II.
High Street was the home of the wealthiest townspeople in the 1580s, and the houses dating from the rebuilding form the finest examples of post-fire architecture in the town. The modern street still contains many other good examples of Elizabethan
Elizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
timber-framed buildings, all of which date from after the fire; these include the Queen's Aid House
Queen's Aid House
The Queen's Aid House, or 41 High Street, is a timber-framed, black-and-white Elizabethan merchant's house in Nantwich, Cheshire, England. It is located on the High Street immediately off the town square and opposite the junction with Castle Street . It is listed at grade II...
, number 46
46 High Street, Nantwich
46 High Street is a timber-framed, black-and-white Elizabethan merchant's house in Nantwich, Cheshire, England, located in the town square at the corner of High Street and Castle Street . The present building dates from shortly after the fire of 1583, and is believed to have been built for Thomas...
and the grade-I-listed Crown Inn
Crown Hotel, Nantwich
The Crown Hotel, also known as the Crown Inn, is a timber-framed, black-and-white hotel and public house located at 24–26 High Street in the town of Nantwich in Cheshire, England. The present building dates from shortly after 1583...
.
History
The bend in the High Street which Regent House now occupies follows the outer wall of the NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Nantwich Castle
Nantwich Castle
Nantwich Castle was a Norman castle in Nantwich, Cheshire, England, built before 1180 to guard a ford across the River Weaver. The castle is first documented in 1288. It was last recorded in 1462, and was in ruins by 1485...
. Built before 1180, the castle is believed to have been located on slightly elevated ground between the River Weaver
River Weaver
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England. Improvements to the river to make it navigable were authorised in 1720 and the work, which included eleven locks, was completed in 1732...
and the modern High Street and Castle Street, probably near the Crown Inn
Crown Hotel, Nantwich
The Crown Hotel, also known as the Crown Inn, is a timber-framed, black-and-white hotel and public house located at 24–26 High Street in the town of Nantwich in Cheshire, England. The present building dates from shortly after 1583...
. The castle was last recorded in 1462.
The existing Regent and Warwick House is believed to have been built shortly after the 1583 fire, which destroyed all the buildings on the west side of High Street, together with much of the town east of the River Weaver. The stretch of the High Street running between the river and what is now the town square included four of the seven inns destroyed by the fire: the Crown, the principal inn of the town; the Bell, a major inn with 17 beds; the Cock, site of cock-fighting
Cockfight
A cockfight is a blood sport between two roosters , held in a ring called a cockpit. Cockfighting is now illegal throughout all states in the United States, Brazil, Australia and in most of Europe. It is still legal in several U.S. territories....
; and the Bear, which kept four bears for bear-baiting
Bear-baiting
Bear-baiting is a blood sport involving the worrying or tormenting of bears.-Bear-baiting in England:Bear-baiting was popular in England until the nineteenth century. From the sixteenth century, many herds of bears were maintained for baiting...
. There was also a butcher's shop and a smithy.
The building was updated in the late 18th century. Sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s were added, and the original triangular gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
s were replaced by a section with timber uprights which imitated the parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
s of late Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
townhouses. The timberwork on the first storey of Warwick House was later covered with roughcast
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
.
Regent House housed the Regent Cycle Stores in around 1900, and later the cycle manufacturer's, Raven Cycle Co. In the 1990s it was an estate agent's and, from 1999, an independent furniture retailers. , it is used as a charity shop. In 1914, Warwick House was the premises of William Johnson, a "hosier, glover & draper & ladies' & children's outfitter". It has been a chemist's shop since the late 20th century.
Description
Regent and Warwick House is a timber-framedTimber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
, black-and-white building, constructed around the corner of the street. It has three storeys, each of which have jetties
Jettying
Jettying is a building technique used in medieval timber frame buildings in which an upper floor projects beyond the dimensions of the floor below. This has the advantage of increasing the available space in the building without obstructing the street...
, under a tiled roof. The exterior has close studding
Close studding
Close studding is a form of timber work used in timber-framed buildings in which vertical timbers are set close together, dividing the wall into narrow panels...
on the first and second storeys. There is a middle rail on the first storey and two horizontal timbers on the second storey, which was substantially altered in the 18th century. The timbering is covered with roughcast
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
on the first storey of Warwick House.
Regent House retains eight of the original wooden mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed windows on the first and second floors, which alternate with 18th-century sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s. The main doorway of Regent House is on the corner and is flanked by columns. Warwick House has an 18th-century doorway to the right side of the façade; its windows are all 18th-century sashes. The ground floor is occupied with shop fronts, which date from the 19th or 20th century on Regent House, and are modern on Warwick House.
Sources
- Garton E. Nantwich, Saxon to Puritan: A History of the Hundred of Nantwich, c 1050 to c 1642 (Johnson & Son Nantwich; 1972) (ISBN 0950273805)
- Garton E. Tudor Nantwich: A Study of Life in Nantwich in the Sixteenth Century (Cheshire County Council Libraries and Museums; 1983) (ISBN 0 903017 05 9)
- Lake J. The Great Fire of Nantwich (Shiva Publishing; 1983) (ISBN 0 906812 57 7)
- Pevsner N, Hubbard E. The Buildings of England: Cheshire (Penguin Books; 1971) (ISBN 0 14 071042 6)
- Simpson R. Crewe and Nantwich: A Pictorial History (Phillimore; 1991) (ISBN 0 85033 724 0)
- Whatley A. Nantwich in Old Picture Postcards: 1880–1930 (European Library; 1992) (ISBN 90 288 5380 4)