Historic Droitwich Its Streets and People

Within the hall, a floor was inserted during the late 16th century supported on two massive 'spine' beams running west to east.  The northernmost 'spine' beam is dated by dendrochronology to 1594, in the reign of Elizabeth I and just 6 years after the Spanish Armada was sent to invade England!  

The solar cross-range to the west (No 31) and the service range to the east (No 35), which already had stairs or ladders to their first floors, are likely to have had door openings created through to the new upper first floor of the former open hall (No 33). 

Inside the former hall, a brick and stone chimneystack with fireplaces was introduced at the west end on the first floor level. 

This change would have increased the living and working space inside the
building by creating an upper floor, and this upper floor would have
been partitioned into more rooms by blocking in the upper parts of the
previously open structural timber framing at that level.  Doorways were
created between these new areas, and are still there today.

A timber framed staircase turret, whose components are much less impressive than the original hall, was added to the north side of the open hall either at the same time as, or after, the insertion of the ceiling and probably no later than the early to mid 1600s.  Assuming what is now Nos 31, 33 and 35 were still one complex of buildings, if the hall already had access to upper rooms in the complex through the solar cross-range (No 31) and service range (No 35), then the insertion of a ceiling in the former open hall (No 33) would not lead to a requirement for another stair or ladder within that space.  It is possible that a ladder was inserted in 1594 into the previous open hall at the east end in the 'screens passage' area to give immediate and probably temporary access to the new first floor; it seems much more likely, however, that the external staircase turret was constructed at the same time as the insertion of the ceiling into the former open hall.  Alternatively, the staircase turret could have been constructed some years later to enable the building complex to be partitioned into 'moieties' [halves] or 'tenements' [multiple dwellings], which would be likely to require separate access from ground to first floor in this part.

The staircase turret has a window at eaves level on the north
elevation, later covered over with thin bricks set on their side edges
(possibly a reaction to the Window Tax from 1696 onwards), but still
visible today from the outside.

In the mid or late 17th century, another small two-storey 'wing' was added on the north of the former open hall; this has walls of sandstone blocks.  In effect it takes support from the timber framed staircase turret, so must be later.  At the same time, it appears that the existing first floor chimneystack was extended into the sandstone wing.  The sandstone blocks seem to have been reused, possibly from another local building which had suffered in the Civil War.  (The nearby mediaeval St Nicholas' church on Friar Street would have been a potential source as it was heavily damaged, as was St Augustine's on Dodderhill a little further away.) 

A series of documents dating back to the early 1600s shows that the plot of land on which the building stood extended northwards to the river Salwarpe and included two salt-making shelters and storage areas for the salt produced. 

This documentary evidence also suggests that in the 1680s the complex was sub-divided into two properties (potentially what is now No. 31, and Nos. 33-35), but single ownership resumed from the early 1700s although 'tenements' within the building continue to be mentioned and were probably rented out.  Brine processing and salt storage also continue to be mentioned.