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Turn
into West Street with its varied skyline and frontages. The
plaque is on the second entrance to the Swan Walk shopping centre,
which stands on the site of the former Swan coaching inn,
Nearly
opposite this entrance is West Way, a short walkway between shops
to Blackhorse Way and the new Forum (2004) with its fountains and
sun dial.
At the
end of West Street you return to the Carfax, the centuries-old
centre of the town with its largely pedestrianised cobbled
streets, gas lamps, War Memorial, bandstand and a wide variety of
shops, pubs and restaurants. From the 13th century, fairs
and markets were held in this area. Over the years it has
also contained the County Gaol, bull ring, stock and was the first
location of the Jubilee Fountain.
On the
eastern side of the Carfax are examples of more timber-framed
buildings (Nos 26/27 and 33/34) dating from the 15th to 17th
centuries with roofs of local stone. |
