Description

ST COLUMB MAJOR ST COLUMB MAJOR
SW 9063-9163
17/254 The Retreat Hospital
-
II

Workhouse, now hospital. Circa 1840, with some alterations and additions of C20.
Coursed elvan stone rubble with granite dressings. Some granite ashlar. Slate roofs
with lead rolls to hips and ridge; the roofs are hipped, with stacks with rendered
shafts.
Plan: The workhouse is arranged in 3 parallel ranges. The front range has a central
gateway, with single storey wing to each side, containing warden's accommodation and
offices. The main workhouse is the central range; this has a central polygonal
tower, with entrance hall at ground floor and kitchen wing to rear. To right and
left is a wing, containing a hall, one side for men and one for women, with a cross
wing at the end of each side, for living and sleeping accommodation. The rear range
is a long block of uncertain function, probably originally containing work rooms.
The plan is in accord with the standard functions of a C19 workhouse, with some
additions of C20 which do not obscure the original layout.
Exterior: The front range is symmetrical single storey. The entrance is in a tall
centrepiece, with pediment with large modillions, and has a round arch with voussoirs
and rusticated jambs with imposts, and a fine pair of C19 cast iron gates with knob
finials; round vault inside, with doors and windows. The wing to each side is of
2:3:2 bays, the central bays broken forward, with three 12-pane sashes with voussoirs
and keystones. Outer bays have similar 12-pane sashes. One window to left and right
replaced by C20 door. At the rear, there sre hipped dormers with 16-pane, sashes,
most ground floor windows are C20 replacements.
The main central range has a central octagonal 3-storey tower, with 6-bay wing to
right and left, and a cross wing at the end of each wing. The front centre is canted
with 1:3:1 bays, all windows are 12-pane sashes with keystones, central 4-panelled
door with overlight and cornice. The windows at second floor are round-arched sashes
with radial glazing bars. Pediment over with large modillions. Stack to right and
left and similar pediment at the sides and rear. The side wings are 2-storey, with
some original 16-pane lights remaining, with keystones at first floor, some C20
replacements. The ground floor windows are 15-pane sashes with keystones, some
replaced by half-glazed C20 doors. The cross wings each have one bay to front and
rear, with similar windows. C20 L-plan wings attached to front. The outer sides of
the cross wings have C20 replacement sashes and doors. To rear right is a single
storey porter's lodge, with 2 doors and one window; this has been raised in height,
and attached to the right-hand cross wing. The rear of the main range has the
central tower with 12-pane lights with keystones at first floqr and round arched
sashes at second floor, as on front; central window blind. Attached to rear centre
is the single storey kitchen, with raised hipped roof with a glazed clerestorey, and
C20 additions to each side. The wings to right and left have sashes at ground and
first floor as on front, with a C20 2-storey addition to right and left. Single
storey C20 addition to the cross wing to right.
The rear range is 2-storey, a nearly symmetrical front with 4 bays to centre and a
single storey 4-bay wing to right and left. The central 4 bays have single storey
canted bay to right and left with sashes, C20 door and sash between; first floor has
paired sash to right and left and 2 central sashes. One bay set back to left-and 2
to right, both 2-storey with sashes. The single storey wings to right and left have
3 small gables over tall sashes and C20 doors.
Interior: Much altered in C20 for hospital use. In the main range, the central
polygonal block has a staircase at each side; food would have been prepared in the
kitchens and brought through the entrance hall to each dining hall, with living
accommodation at the end.

Listing NGR: SW9166063776

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26436956

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)