The story
Welcome. If you are standing here in the heart of the Square, you are standing exactly where the pulse of this town has beaten for centuries. When guests first arrive, they almost always ask the same three questions: Why is it called the High Street?
Who built that grand old clock tower? And what exactly happened to the old market that used to be here? Let’s start with the name.
You might notice we aren't on a hill, so why High Street? In the old tongue, high didn’t refer to elevation, but to importance. This was the chief road, the Royal Highway, the place where the most significant trade and the loudest proclamations happened.
If you were a merchant in the middle ages and you didn’t have a storefront here, you simply didn't exist in the eyes of the public. Now, look up at that ornate building dominating the north side of the square. That is the Old Guildhall, but locals just call it the Watchman.
Notice the intricate stone carvings around the windows. If you look closely at the third pillar from the left, you’ll see a small, weathered face of a lion. Legend says that during the Great Fire that swept through the wooden shops in the sixteen-hundreds, a local baker climbed that very pillar to ring the bell and save the residents.
He became a folk hero, and the town stonemason carved that lion in his honor. People often ask about the cobbles beneath their feet. These aren't just for decoration.
They were laid down to provide grip for the heavy draft horses that pulled wagons of wool and grain into the square. On a quiet morning, if you close your eyes, you can almost hear the ghost of that clatter—the shouting of auctioneers and the bleating of livestock. This wasn't just a place to shop; it was a theater of survival.
As you walk toward the High Street shops, notice the transition from the heavy stone of the Victorian era to the narrow, leaning timber frames of the Tudor buildings. It is a vertical timeline of our history. See how the upper floors of those older buildings overhang the street?
That wasn’t for style; it was a clever way to gain more floor space without paying for a larger footprint on the ground, which was taxed by the inch. So, as you explore today, don’t just look at the shop windows. Look up at the gables, touch the cool stone of the fountain, and remember that every brick here has a story to tell.
Enjoy your walk through time.