173, High Street, Berkhamsted

173 High Street is a timber-framed structure dating to the medieval period, featuring exposed wooden beams and Victorian-era modifications that shaped its current appearance. The building shows how different construction techniques were layered over time to create its distinctive form.

Built between 1277 and 1297, this structure originally served as a service wing to a larger hall house during Berkhamsted's period as a wool trading center. Its early construction timeline connects it to the town's medieval growth and commercial importance.

The timber frame shows how medieval builders used jutting upper floors to gain extra space without expanding outward, a practical solution visible in the building's distinctive profile.

The building sits in Berkhamsted's commercial center and is easy to reach by public transportation or on foot. You can see the exterior structure and its details from the street, making it a straightforward stop on local walking routes.

Scientific analysis of the timber revealed this to be the oldest known standing jettied timber-framed structure in Great Britain. This discovery makes the building invaluable to understanding how medieval builders solved the challenge of creating extra floor space in crowded town centers.