Listed Building record MDR23249 - Nos. 2-4 Market Place, Derby

Nos. 2-4 Market Place, Derby, an early 18th century building. An historic building recording survey carried out on No. 3 in 2019 found the following: 'A group of listed town houses, with shops on the ground floor below an early 18th century facade. Numbers 3 and 4 were formerly one town house, known as Francey's House. The date of origin of this town houses is unclear: tradition suggests that it was built in the 1690s for Alderman William Francey. Secondary sources, however, indicate that the house was built c1648 for a William Francey, to replace an earlier house. William seems to have let the house to his eldest son, John, a butcher. John inherited the house in 1664. However, William's younger son, another William, came to occupy the property, from where he seems to have conducted his business as an apothecary. The property was transferred to this William in 1683. The younger William prospered becoming an Alderman of Derby and serving three terms as Mayor at the end of the 17th century. This William died in 1703 leaving his properties, which seem to have included other properties in the Market Place to one of his sons, Henry, who was also an apothecary. Henry also prospered. He entertained the Duke of Devonshire and his son, Lord James Cavendish, in 1733, and is reported to have entertained Prince Charles Edward Stuart, in 1745. He died in 1747 whilst serving as Mayor An article from the 1930s suggests that at the time no. 3 the house featured an oak staircase lit by a Queen Anne window, a drawing room with a fireplace bearing the Francey crest and linen-fold panelling, timber panelling on the walls of the drawing room and chief bedroom. Other sources indicate that there was a fine painted ceiling. The apotheary shop survied until 1976. A survey of 2019 suggests that the early 18th century stairs and windows survived along with 18th century stairs. It was considered that the earliest parts of the house lay on the street frontage. This had been exended to the rear in two phases.' (1) From the National Heritage List for England: 'MARKET PLACE 1. 5170 (West Side) Nos 2 to 4 (consec) SK 3536 SW 1/190 20.6.52. II 2. Early C18. Red brick; 4 storeys; 8 sash window with moulded stone dog-eared architraves, and those to lst storey with keyblocks and cornices. 2nd storey windows have plain moulded architraves and a cornice above; attic storey with a second cornice, and parapet. Central rusticated coach arch. Modern shop fronts at either side. No 3 retains upper flight of C18 staircase. < Listing NGR: SK3523336267.' (2)