Thomas and William Church's houses

THE centre of the front wall of Thomas Church's house on The Square has sunk over the years, but that dip has been retained in subsequent work on the building.

   The house, strictly No 46 High Street, the left-hand two gable ends, is one of a pair of buildings rebuilt in 1584 after the Fire of Nantwich (1583). It was lived in by Thomas Church, a mercer, and it is now occupied by Nantwich Book Shop and Coffee Lounge. 

   The second floor is open to the public enabling a close inspection of the centuries-old timbers. But it is approached up a narrow set of stairs and so may not be available to all. There are stairs to the first floor.

   Thomas Church is interred in the churchyard of nearby St Mary's Parish Church. 

   No 42 and 44 High Street - the right-hand pair of gables, occupied by a coffee shop and a charity shops - was lived in by William Church, son of Richard Churche, who built Churche's Mansion. Richard's surname was spelled differently to the other members of his family. See also this Places to See page.

lSUE Church, who describes herself as "honorary member of the Church family by marriage",  said: "William Church was the son of Richard who built Churche's Mansion. Thomas was the son of Edward, who was Richard's brother, making them cousins.

   "The plaque on the Nantwich Book Shop states incorrectly that they were uncle and nephew, and a salt display in the Museum in 2008 had them as father and son!"

Other images of the Book Shop | Places to See index | Websites - tourism

lLocation: In The Square, right in the centre of the town.

lOpening times: This is a book shop with a coffee lounge on the ground floor and a coffee lounge/restaurant on the first floor, keeping normal trading hours. There is an opportunity to see the interesting second floor.

lAdmission: As commercial premises, there is no charge for admission.

lDisabled access?: There is no problem accessing the ground floor, but there is a set of stairs up to the coffee lounge and restaurant, and a much-steeper flight of stairs up to the second floor, both of which would be beyond someone in a wheelchair.

lWebsite:  http://www.nantwichbookshop.co.uk.