Description

WORCESTER

SO8454NE HIGH STREET
620-1/16/348 (West side)
19/08/99 No.78

GV II

House, now shop. Probably early C17 origins with later additions
and alterations including those c1750; those of c1921 by L.L.
Bussault of Newall Street, Birmingham for The Shakespeare Café;
ground floor shop front c1970s. Brick with remains of original
timber-framing to interior; decorative timber-framing applied to
the upper storeys, plain tile roof. Three storeys with attics,
two first-floor windows. Ground floor has glazed shop front and
central entrance. First and second floors have applied timbering:
lozenge motif to first floor and small box frames to second
floor. A decorative gable to the front has diagonal struts.
First-floor window: pair of 3-light mullion windows with two
levels of transoms and with 4-centre-headed upper lights; stained
glass has coats of arms of local worthies and the see of
Worcester. Pilaster strips to ends and between windows, with
frieze. Second floor: two 2-light mullion and transom windows,
all with small, leaded lights, some with coloured glass. Attic
roof dormers to either side of 'gable' have hipped roofs and
diamond-light casements windows. Rear retains 8/8 sash to second
floor and 3/3 sash; a renewed 4/8 sash.
INTERIOR: attic has square panels of timber framing to gable end
and trenched purlins; noted as having C17 roof trusses. Attic
retains plank doors and wide floorboards. First floor retains
some original joinery including fluted architraves with
anthaemeon motif to upper corners. Beam to front room has ovolo
moulding; white marble fireplace. To rear room a moulded cornice
with paterae. Staircase from first to second floor has slender
rod-on-vase balusters with square knops with closed string and
moulded handrail. Second floor has Victorian cast-iron fireplace
and 4-panel door. Basement has fireplace with chamfered
bressumer.
HISTORIC NOTE: in 1790 this was a toy shop run by May Wilson; by
1796 it was a bakery run by Mrs Mary Nelmes who became 'pastry
cook to their Majesties' following a visit to Worcester by George
III in 1788. In 1815 it was Henry Mountford's bakery and in 1861
it had become Samuel Hooper Mountford's 'Grand Luncheon and
Dining Rooms'. In 1885 John Gee sold glass and china here and in
1921 it became The Shakespeare Café, for which alterations were
made to the facade.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26669330

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)