Survey Data
Reg No
50070357
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social
Previous Name
Richmond District Lunatic Asylum
Original Use
Hospital/infirmary
In Use As
Hospital/infirmary
Date
1845 - 1855
Coordinates
314618, 235153
Date Recorded
08/11/2012
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached E-plan five-bay two-storey infirmary, built c.1850, having gabled breakfronts to either end of front (south) elevation, central gabled porch to front with half-dormer window over, full-height returns to either end and to centre of rear elevation, with single-storey extension with hipped roof to central return. Pitched artificial slate roofs, cast-iron rainwater goods, terracotta ridge tiles. Snecked calp limestone walls, block-and-start quoins, shouldered buttresses having limestone capping, limestone string course at plinth level. Chimney abutting east elevation, chimneystack absent. Pointed arch openings to apices of end-bays, dressed chamfered limestone surrounds and timber louvered vents. Square-headed window openings, dressed chamfered limestone surrounds, sills, calp voussoirs over, ten-over-fifteen pane timber sash windows, bipartite eight-over-twelve pane timber sash windows to ground floor flanking porch. Ten-over-fifteen pane timber sash window and ten-pane overlight to half-dormer window. Four-over-six and eight-over-twelve pane timber sash windows to side elevations. Bipartite six-over-nine pane timber sash windows to first floor to rear. Square-headed window openings to rear and returns, red brick voussoirs, surrounds and chamfered limestone sills, six-over-nine, eight-over-twelve, four-over-six pane timber sash windows. Some steel grilles over windows. Chamfered corners to porch. Square-headed shouldered door opening to front of porch, chamfered limestone surround, double-leaf half-glazed timber battened door. Square-headed door opening to rear, render block-and-start surround, double-leaf half-glazed timber battened door and overlight.
Appraisal
This building is one of two matching infirmaries, one male and one female, flanking a chapel, which were the first structures to be erected on the site west of Grangegorman Lower after its acquisition by Richmond Lunatic Asylum from Lord Monck in 1836, to designs by Murray & Denny. Well-composed, its calp walls are enlivened by dressed limestone detailing. Projecting end bays to the front provide a pleasing symmetry to the façade. Timber sash windows, with unusual glazing patterns, are retained, which contributes to the patina of age. The replication of the design to the corresponding building to the west enhances the overall symmetry of the site. The third edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1907) indicates a central return only, indicating that the wings to either side are of later date.