Survey Data

Reg No

12000226


Rating

Regional


Categories of Special Interest

Architectural


Original Use

House


In Use As

Office


Date

1815 - 1835


Coordinates

250796, 155995


Date Recorded

16/06/2004


Date Updated

--/--/--


Description

Semi-detached two-bay three-storey house, built 1832, with shared single-bay single-storey pedimented projecting open porch to right ground floor, and single-bay three-storey shallow return to east. Reroofed, c.1925. Now in use as offices. One of a pair. Pitched (shared) roof part behind parapet (hipped to return; gabled (shared) to porch) with replacement artificial slate, c.1925, clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond chimney stack, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Unpainted rendered, ruled and lined walls with cut-limestone stepped parapet having bas-relief panel, limestone ashlar walls to porch having tapered pilasters supporting frieze, and moulded surround to shared pediment. Camber-headed window opening to ground floor in tripartite arrangement with square-headed window openings to remainder (in bipartite arrangement to first floor; round-headed window opening to return) having cut-stone sills, six-over-six timber sash window to tripartite opening having two-over-two sidelights, four-over-four timber sash windows to bipartite openings, and two-over-two timber sash windows to remainder. Elliptical-headed opening to open porch with cut-limestone step, chamfered reveals, and no fittings. Square-headed door opening to house with carved cut-limestone architrave, and glazed timber panelled door having overlight. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Road fronted with sections of iron railings to front on limestone ashlar plinth having foliate finials. (ii) Attached three-bay two-storey coach house, built 1832, to east on an L-shaped plan with single-bay two-storey linking bay to west. Reroofed, c.1925. One of a pair. Pitched (shared) roof on an L-shaped plan with replacement artificial slate, c.1925, clay ridge tiles, red brick Running bond (shared) chimney stack, rooflights, pre-2001, and iron rainwater goods on cut-stone eaves. Painted roughcast walls with exposed random rubble stone construction to side (north) elevation. Square-headed window openings in camber-headed recesses with cut-stone sills, and three-over-three timber sash windows having some timber casement windows.

Appraisal

An elegantly-appointed substantial house also known as Priors Orchard built as one of a pair (with 12000225/KK-4766-09-225) to designs attributed to William Robertson (1770-1850). Varied proportions to the window openings featuring varied profiles lend an elegantly tiered quality distinguishing the house in the streetscape while a porch featuring fine carved detailing exhibiting high quality stone masonry further enhances the Classical theme of the composition. Having been well maintained the house presents an early aspect with the original form and massing surviving intact together with most of the historic fabric both to the exterior and to the interior, thereby maintaining the integrity of the assemblage. The survival of an attendant outbuilding in the grounds contributes pleasantly to the group and setting values of the site.