LISTED BUILDING · NHLE 1255469
23, 23A and 23B, High Street
23, 23A and 23B, High Street
Shop and dwelling constructed in the late-C18 or early-C19. The shopfront was replaced during the mid-C20. It is now (2022) in use as a shop with flats above.
Dates and uses reflect the source records and may not describe the building today.
Designation information
Inclusion in the National Heritage List for England confirms that this is a designated heritage asset of national special architectural or historic interest.
Historical development
The town of Leominster traces its origins to the establishment of a religious house there during the C7 or earlier. The Saxon settlement endured repeated Viking raids and is recorded as a sizeable town in the Domesday Book (1086), with 27 households. In the early-C12, King Henry I established a Benedictine Priory in the town and granted a foundation charter for the town’s market. The town thrived throughout the later medieval period, despite periodic unrest due to its location in the border region. Leominster wool was prized across Europe and bestowed considerable wealth upon the town. The town centre retains many medieval and early-modern buildings; secular buildings are timber framed while surviving Priory buildings are constructed of local sandstone. The town centre retains an essentially medieval street pattern, with long, narrow burgage plots fronting the north-south spine road of Broad Street-High Street-South Street, and Corn Square (the historic market place) lying to the east of the High Street. The remains of the Priory, dissolved in 1539, lie to the north-east of the town centre. The town remained a prominent local centre into the C18 and C19. During this period, many timber-framed buildings were replaced (or refronted) by brick buildings with Classical elevations. Many houses in the town centre were partially converted to commercial use and equipped with shopfronts during the later-C19 and C20. The building was constructed during the late-C18 or early-C19, likely on the site of an earlier building. It was probably built as a shop house (a shop with dwelling above). A new shopfront was installed during the mid-C20. The building is currently (2022) in use as a shop with flats above.
People and businesses through time
HISTORICAL ADDRESS RECORD
Through time, 23, 23A and 23B, High Street
1 of 9, Late 18th century or early 19th century
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About these records
Directory entries can describe a workplace or premises use rather than a residence.
Late 18th century or early 19th century
ConstructionBuilding construction
Estimated date recorded by the current NHLE building entry.
SourceNational Heritage List for England, NHLE 1255469
Estimated construction date drawn from the NHLE list summary.
Architectural evidence and features
These descriptions relate to particular parts of the building at the date of each source. They may not reflect its use or condition today. Unconfirmed features remain open questions.
Evidence reviewed 13 September 2026.
Documented type / function
- Shop; Dwelling
Listed subject
As described in NHLE; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
Use at source date
- Shop; Flats
Listed subject
2022
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
A historical or reported description; the detail has not been independently confirmed.
External wall material
- Red brick
Principal building
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
Cladding / finishes
- Roughcast render
Partially exposed rear elevation
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
Other materials / details
- Stucco
Dressings, keystones and sill
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
- Timber
Shopfront and eaves
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
- Iron
Horizontal strap between upper windows
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
Roof covering
- Slate (reported, unconfirmed)
Principal building
NHLE reported covering
Supported with qualification
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
A historical or reported description; the detail has not been independently confirmed.
Architectural features
- Flemish bond
Brickwork
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
- Shopfront; Pilasters; Fascia; Blocked overlight
Frontage
Shopfront replaced mid-20th century; blocked overlight
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
- Timber cornice
Main eaves
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
- Sash windows; Gauged brick flat arches; Keystones
Principal upper floors
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
- Iron strap
Between first and second-floor windows
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
- Jettied upper floors
Partially exposed south elevation, structure unspecified
NHLE described condition; observation date unspecified
Source and context
Historic England, NHLE entry 1255469
Applies to the named part of the building at the date of the source.
Research notes and uncertainties
Roof covering: Roof understood to be slate is reported, not confirmed. Photograph hides covering.
Photo repair attribution: Brick-colour variation alone does not prove a repair. Caption’s local patch repairs retained unverified.
Late 18th century or early 19th century; mid-20th century shopfront Documented principal date and expressly identified fabric phases. Reject 12th-century, 16th-century and Medieval tags from town history. Withhold 21st-century fabric tag: 2022 is use date.
Surface cabling or services face-mounted wire. 024/065 display same image content, not independent corroboration. No mortar-binder claim. No method, cause, severity or continuing condition is inferred.
Blocked opening Entrance from alleyway, as NHLE described. Historical fabric/alteration evidence remains searchable with source scope; no current condition diagnosis.
Explore records with these reviewed features. Results may concern only part of a listed group and retain their source-date qualifications.
How this record is evidenced
The designation, listing date and statutory description are drawn from Historic England, NHLE 1255469.
Current survey photographs dated 25 July 2026 record the publicly visible fabric and features shown on this page.
The concise summary and searchable feature tags have been prepared by Leominster Heritage and are kept separate from the statutory wording.
Map location
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23, 23A and 23B, High Street
Grade II · Late C18 or early C19; mid-C20 shopfront · 23, 23A and 23B, High Street
Shop and dwelling constructed in the late-C18 or early-C19. The shopfront was replaced during the mid-C20. It is now (2022) in use as a shop with flats above.
Current survey photographs
Documentary evidence
Historic England
Official list description
Shop and dwelling constructed in the late-C18 or early-C19. The shopfront was replaced during the mid-C20. It is now (2022) in use as a shop with flats above. MATERIALS: the building is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond with stucco dressings and a timber shopfront and eaves. The partially-exposed rear elevation is of roughcast render. The roof covering is understood to be slate. PLAN: the building is arranged on a rectangular plan facing the High Street to the west and enclosed on three sides by adjoining buildings. There is access to the rear via an alleyway off of Victoria Street to the south and a doorway in the partially-exposed south elevation. EXTERIOR: the building is three storeys in height under a pitched roof with a moulded timber cornice. The principal elevation onto High Street (to the west) is one bay wide. On the ground floor is a timber shopfront with a brick base, consisting of two pilasters framing a large, plate glass window, with an entrance containing a modern (late-C20) door from Ironmongers Lane, within a moulded, C19 doorframe with blocked overlight, and a large fascia board with a moulded border. The first and second floors each carry a single, timber sash window with gauged brickwork flat-arch heads with enriched stucco keystones. The first-floor window has eight-over-eight glazing and the second-floor window has four-over-eight glazing, along with a stucco sill. Between the first and second-floor windows is a long, horizontal iron strap with forked ends. The partially-exposed south elevation has timber, C20 door on the ground floor. The upper floors are jettied. The first and second floors each carry a two-over-two glazed, timber sash window with horns, set within a plain timber surround set flush with the façade. History The town of Leominster traces its origins to the establishment of a religious house there during the C7 or earlier. The Saxon settlement endured repeated Viking raids and is recorded as a sizeable town in the Domesday Book (1086), with 27 households. In the early-C12, King Henry I established a Benedictine Priory in the town and granted a foundation charter for the town’s market. The town thrived throughout the later medieval period, despite periodic unrest due to its location in the border region. Leominster wool was prized across Europe and bestowed considerable wealth upon the town. The town centre retains many medieval and early-modern buildings; secular buildings are timber framed while surviving Priory buildings are constructed of local sandstone. The town centre retains an essentially medieval street pattern, with long, narrow burgage plots fronting the north-south spine road of Broad Street-High Street-South Street, and Corn Square (the historic market place) lying to the east of the High Street. The remains of the Priory, dissolved in 1539, lie to the north-east of the town centre. The town remained a prominent local centre into the C18 and C19. During this period, many timber-framed buildings were replaced (or refronted) by brick buildings with Classical elevations. Many houses in the town centre were partially converted to commercial use and equipped with shopfronts during the later-C19 and C20. The building was constructed during the late-C18 or early-C19, likely on the site of an earlier building. It was probably built as a shop house (a shop with dwelling above). A new shopfront was installed during the mid-C20. The building is currently (2022) in use as a shop with flats above.
Sources and further reading
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