Listed Building record MDR10793 - No. 51 Church Street, Melbourne

No. 51 Church Street, Melbourne, originally an early 14th century building. 'This is a stone and brick house of two storeys. It appears to have originally been L-shaped on plan, with a two-bay range gabled to the street and the three-bay return range to the north set back from the street. The ground floor of both ranges is substantially of stone, whereas the upper floor is of brick, prompting speculation that the brick is secondary and possibly replacing a former timber frame. No evidence for this was found. The property appears to have acquired its present disposition in the mid-18th century and was subject to further alteration in the late 19th century. The northern range contains an ex-situ post and tie-beam of early 14th century date.' (1) 'This tiny house is in two parts, each of one room on plan: a stone and brick two-storey part on the street front, and a stone part behind it offset to the west, which was built to one storey only. The two parts were probably separate single-cell cottages. The rear part is probably one of a row of one room stone cottages, the other end of which became the White Lion, No. 49. They were probably built in the second half of the 17th century, using material from the Castle. The front part of the house was built in stone soon afterwards, but may have been a stable or workshop rather than a house. It is not known when the two cottages became one, and it is now being restored under the direction of Anthony Short of Ashbourne. Melbourne Hall Estate holds records tracing the occupancy of the house back to the late 18th century.' (2) 'A single core was taken from a fireplace mantel beam in this building for tree ring dating. Analysis gave a last measured ring date of 1198 with a probable felling date estimated as being in the range 1240-1250.' (3) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 38/3925 PARISH OF MELBOURNE CHURCH STREET 6/99 (North Side) 31.10.83 No 51 GV II Cottage. Early C14 and mid C18 with late C19 alterations. Rendered rubble stone and red brick with plain first floor band. Plain tile roofs with brick coped gable to north, and brick gable stacks to south and east, plus stepped eaves cornice to west front. Two storeys and L-plan. South gable front has a flat headed 3-light horizontal sliding small pane sash to ground floor and a 3-light small casement window above. West front has a segment headed doorcase with plank door to south, a ruinous window to north and a blank wall above. Recessed part to north has a 2-light window to ground floor with a gabled late C19 roof dormer with casements above. Interior of the rear wing has part of a huge C14 timber fireplace. This has a richly moulded bressumer with a plain central block decorated to either end with deeply undercut leaf carvings, and a similarly moulded timber jamb to north, with similar leaf carving to top. South side of the fireplace was probably cut away when it passage was made through the building across the north-east corner. Listing NGR: SK3883325067.' (4)