considered to be one of the oldest and largest of this kind of buildings
of which our town displays so many specimens.
The projecting stories are sustained by elegant brackets, and the angle
uprights enriched with small pointed arches, carved with trefoil and
other decorations. Along the front basement is a cloister of wooden
arches obtusely pointed.—This building, 60 feet in length, is now divided
into smaller habitations. History is silent as to the time, or by whom
this edifice was erected, nor have we any decided information of its
primary occupancy.
From the appearance of the cloister, it has been conjectured that it was
a religious house, inhabited by the chauntry priests of the fraternity of
the Holy Cross in St. Alkmund’s church. But from its extent it is more
likely to have been the town mansion of the Abbot of Lilleshull, who had
a residence in this part of the parish, and to which monastery the
patronage of the church belonged.
[Picture: Ancient Timber House]
Continuing our route to the left of this house, we pass steps leading to
the churchyard, and the foundations of a stone building (which once
pertained to an _Oriel_ and the ancient college of St. Alkmond), into
Fish-street, occupied by shambles, and on market-days by the country
butchers. Crossing the top of High-street, we enter Milk-street, which
leads to Old St. Chad’s (page 28), and the street called BELMONT, in
which is situated