Survey Data
Reg No
21508004
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social
Original Use
Almshouse
In Use As
House
Date
1750 - 1780
Coordinates
157746, 157844
Date Recorded
12/05/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Terraced three-bay two-storey exposed rubble limestone former almshouse, built c. 1760, with a three-centred carriage arch opening to the north, and flat-roofed accretion to the rear, c. 1980. Pitched artificial slate roof with cast-iron rainwater goods. Two rendered chimneystacks with plain clay pots. Roof lights to front span, c. 1990. Squared rubble limestone walls to front and rear elevation, with re-used carved stone from an earlier building evident. Camber-arched window openings, hand-made red brick flat arches, block-and-start reveals, limestone sills and replacement six-over-six timber sash windows. Square-headed door opening with red brick flat arch, block-and-start reveals, replacement panelled timber door leaf, and frosted glass overlight. Red brick arch to carriage arch, squared-off with red brick infill, plank timber gates with integrated pedestrian entrance. Facing onto Church Street and a small yard to the rear is enclosed by a rubble limestone wall. This house forms part of a relatively uniform modestly scaled terrace of three similarly scaled houses continuing the streetscape north of the former Bishop's Palace, though breaking forward the building line.
Appraisal
This house forms part of a relatively uniform modestly-scaled terrace of three similarly scaled houses continuing the streetscape north of the former Bishop's Palace, though breaking forward the building line. Though simply composed, this former almshouse has a regularity of design and proportion, which is most evident in the window openings; they are smaller at first floor level than at ground level, and form vertically emphasised rectilinear openings. Historically there is a prominence of almshouses in the Nicholas Street area, which is further emphasised by the Villiers Alms Houses located further north along Church Street, and indicative of the growth of an established charitable tradition in the City.