A Medieval Timber Frame Discovered in Wakefield

Restoration work in Wakefield has uncovered the timber frame of what could be the oldest surviving medieval timber building in the city.
The discovery was made during conservation work at 6 and 8 Silver Street (home to the Black Swan pub) as part of our Wakefield Upper Westgate High Street Heritage Action Zone.
'Originally, the building was covered with expanded metal mesh and cement render, but I knew there was something really quite special hidden underneath', says Britt Harwood, Conservation Architect for INC. Architecture Ltd.
'What was uncovered was a 3-story jettied timber frame building probably dating from 1590.'
Our High Street Heritage Action Zone has also seen work done to restore the original sandstone frontage of the ICON bar, which was covered entirely in granite, and to renovate the original awnings at Lobby 1867.
Chapters:
Wakefield then and now: 00:00
The Wakefield High Street Heritage Action Zone: 00:55
Restoring the ICON bar: 01:47
Restoring Lobby 1867: 02:20
Discovering a medieval timber frame: 2:46
#HistoricHighStreets
Find out more about our Wakefield Upper Westgate High Street Heritage Action Zone ➡️ bit.ly/WakefieldHSHAZ
Discover the story of Wakefield in 8 places ➡️ bit.ly/WakefieldStory

[@paulmaryon9088]

Excellent work, well done, as a carpenter/restorer I appreciate how important your work is, thank you

[@HistoricEngland]

Thank you, Paul!

[@pazstephen9779]

Fabulous to see this work to improve through retention of the historic quality architecture. The only thing I’d point out is a couple of references by Britt Harwood and one of the specialists to “the town” when Wakefield is a “city” (I think through size but also through the Cathedral City status). Great work though and thanks Historic England.

[@HistoricEngland]

Thank you for your feedback!

[@matt-fh6hb]

It is fantastic to see the investment into buildings conservation in Wakefield, bravo. Also, it’s nice to see Nigel still working hard, his work is impeccable.
But please stop saying the Black Swan being a timber framed building has been ‘discovered’. I can’t be the only archaeologist or historian who knew it was there, and what it obviously was, and who has seen the ephemera such as paintings and engravings that clearly show the timber framed buildings there?
Great work recording it and conserving it, but it feels infuriating as a member of the public to be talked down to as if nobody knew it existed.

[@HistoricEngland]

Thanks for your feedback, Matt.

[@dannymurphy1779]

Amazing well done guys.

[@HistoricEngland]

Thanks so much!

[@AlannahRyane]

Love it all!!

[@HistoricEngland]

Thank you!

[@HBFaulkner]

I noticed a salon in the building. Did they use hair cut there? How cool if this happened!