History
Tudor House Museum (40)
Tudor House, located on the corner of Bugle Street and Blue Anchor Lane, was originally three separate medieval tenements along Bugle Street, as is evidenced by the surviving cellars, with further sub-divisions along Blue Anchor Lane. The western block on Blue Anchor Lane - known as the Barn - is likely the oldest above-ground building remaining, possibly dating to before the 1440s. The tenements on Bugle Street were combined into one property - possibly by 1454 - and underwent significant changes in 1491/2 by Sir John Dawtrey, a very wealthy merchant and landowner. At this point, the buildings along Blue Anchor Lane were probably used as a service wing, and the large banqueting hall was added to the west of the house.
After Dawtrey’s death the house remained in wealthy hands, and by 1628 it was owned by cloth manufacturer and mayor John Clungeon, who made significant changes to the property. This included refronting the property and the earliest iteration of the Georgian wing. By the early 18th century, the status of the house was declining, and it was re-divided into multiple tenancies, which included a brewer. Landscape artist George Rogers brought the properties back into single occupancy by 1763 and made several alterations. During the 18th century there were major changes to the banqueting hall, the Blue Anchor Lane wing including the Barn, and to the Georgian Wing.
In the 19th century, after the death of George Rogers, the house was again subdivided, and remained that way until 1886, when William Spranger bought Tudor House. Spranger undertook extensive work and restored the house according to what he believed a Tudor mansion would have looked like. It was at this point that the building was sold to the council, who opened it as a museum in 1912. The museum was closed to the public in 2002 due to major structural problems, and it remained closed for nearly ten years, during which time a large concrete structural wall was inserted, and a cafe, toilet block and lift were constructed.
59 Bugle Street (The Cottage) (57)
An outwardly 18th century cottage, 59 Bugle Street lies south of Tudor House, and dendrochronology analysis shows it dates to approximately 1462. The building would originally have been a hall house, open to the roof internally, the first floor being inserted in 1631, at which point a brick flue was also added.
The Cottage was largely rebuilt in the 18th century, and further alterations, including the addition of a rear wing, took place in the late 18th and early 19th century. It was altered again when William Spranger was undertaking his renovation of Tudor House in the late 19th century, and part of the footprint of The Cottage was incorporated into Tudor House to allow for the insertion of a new staircase and access corridor. The Cottage at this point became accommodation of the museum custodian and his family.
There is a stone vault beneath The Cottage, this likely also dates to around 1462, or possibly earlier, as it is footprint doesn't match the house above. In WWII it was used as the family air raid shelter.
Works to Tudor House
The Tudor House Museum was extensively refurbished as part of a Heritage Lottery funded project prior to reopening to the public in 2012. A decade later, the building is generally in a sound condition but some of the finishes, inside and out, are now showing signs of wear and need to be replaced or redecorated before they worsen. Externally, some of the decorative details of the timber frame have deteriorated and the rendered infill panels are beginning to crack. At the back of the house, overlooking the garden, many of the window frames need an overhaul and the render needs a good clean and redecoration. We are also working to reduce the amount of water seeping into the stone vault that was used as an air-raid shelter during World War II, so that visitors can explore that aspect of the house’s history once more.