Summary : Leche House, home of Alderman John Leche of Mollington, is a very important timber-framed building with a complex history. The original undercroft dates to the late 14th century and is of good quality sandstone ashlar and measured 14.6 x 5.8 metres internally. It is divided into five equal bays with braced ceiling beams carried on stone corbels, the two to the rear partly hidden by a later brick barrel vault over a rear extension. A moulded timber bressumer from the original street frontage survives, with mortice holes that indicate close-studding and a central doorway. The encroachment of 1.4 metres into the street includes posts carrying the early 17th century chamber above the Row. In the late 15th century the house was rebuilt with the upper storeys consisting of a timber framed box of posts carrying roof trusses, tied by beams at their feet and resting on a sill beam placed on the undercroft; the undercroft was also extended to the rear to carry the full depth of the new building above. The plan at Row level retains a two-bay open hall at its centre with a false hammer-beam central truss and king-post trusses at either end. At Row level a shop was located in front of the hall, accessed independently. In the early 17th century the chamber above the Row was raised in height an carried forwards on posts. At the same time two closets and the 'Lady Bower, a gallery carried on wooden Renaissance columns, were added around a small courtyard at the rear. Later, 18th century, alterations include encroachment on to the street, the addition of sash windows to the facade and the insertion of a floor in the over-Row chamber. Now undercroft shop and shop at Row level and above. |