A 'quirky and historical building' dating back to the 1500s has been chosen as the Ashby Civic Society's Building of the Month.

Number 76 Market Street has been home to a number of businesses - and is currently a micro-pub after being a popular town cafe.

The Civic Society has made the building its October choice, and says it dates back to the age of Queen Elizabeth I, while displaying many original Elizabethan and Georgian beams, as well as other recycled artefacts and bricks.

The Society website says: "Number 76 Market Street was for many years occupied by a succession of hatters and clothiers, including Thomas Tunnicliffe of The Cellular Clothing Company which sold Christy's hats, dent gloves and Jargerwear (1912 – 1925) In 1936 the building was also used as a sweet shop.

"During the war years, Mrs Bellamy sold school uniforms and other drapery. Her son-in-law, a Canadian, who de-mobbed from the services, took over the premises and Café 76 was born.

"Later years saw different proprietors of the café until the Hickens father and son took over the running of the premises until the business closed in 2015.

"Between July and November 2016, Tollgate Brewery - which had previously relocated to The National Trust Calke Abbey Estate in 2012 - extensively converted the building to a micro pub called The Tap at no 76. 

"As part of the building's transformation, they relocated the outside staircase and created two flats above and behind the pub area. Another interesting part of the development was the glass-ceilinged extension at the back of the bar which allows visitors to see part of the original Tudor jettying (which is a building technique used in medieval timber-framed buildings in which an upper floor projects beyond the dimensions of the floor below) There was also a pair of 16th/17th Century spurs found during building works and are now displayed in Ashby Museum.

"There were many challenges facing Director Kevin Elliot and his team with managing this Listed Building Grade II project but the end result was worth it!"