Most of Colchester 's longer established residents will remember Charlie Brown's as the Hardware shop that ‘had everything'. The shop was owned by the Brown family for almost 125 years before finally closing for the last time about 15 years ago.
The building, which dates from the 15 th century, is part of the history and heritage of England 's oldest recorded town and, after a major restoration programme has been restored to its former glory and converted into luxury living accommodation.
The refurbishment was carried out by a team of skilled craftsmen who stripped the building back to its original timber frame, revealing one section dating from between 1330 - 1360. Other discoveries included rare fragments of 17 th century wall decoration and a beautifully traceried oak medieval window head which had been hidden for 500 years. There has been speculation that Charlie Brown's was once a grand medieval house which at some time later became an Inn but much of the historic detail of this famous old building has been lost over time – giving future guests the chance to perhaps imagine histories of their own!
