Description

TL 1439 SHEFFORD HIGH STREET
8/110 (south side)

6.8.79 St Francis's Home

GV II

Former orphanage and seminary attached to the Roman Catholic Church of St
Francis of Assisi. Established by the Rev. Canon Collis in 1869, the
buildings were designed by S J Nicholl, and probably paid for by Mrs Lyne-
Stephens of Lynsford Hall, Thetford, Norfolk. They bear the dates 1879 and
1884. Red brick. Clay tile roofs with decorative ridge cresting. 2 storeyed
range to E, 3 storeyed block to W adjoining church. E block: balanced
asymmetry of design. Gabled outer bays. LH one has ground floor sash
surmounted by canted oriel, above which the gable is jettied. RH one has
Tudor arched carriageway surmounted by 2 first floor single-light casements
which flank a small niche (possibly intended for statue of St Francis) with
letters S F below. To central bay are 3 unevenly spaced gablets. LH one is
above canted oriel and Tudor arched carriageway. 2 RH ones are above 2 storey
canted bays. Outer gables have heavy ogee-shaped bargeboards, and mock timber
framing with rose decoration. W block: 2 bays, with 2 storey canted bay
windows. 2nd floor is hung with fishscale tiles, and has 2 tall French
windows opening onto balcony with plain wood balustrade. The gable apices are
jettied out to line with balcony, and have mock timber framing and simply
moulded bargeboards. Windows in both parts have glazing bars, and are mostly
sashes. (Kelly(s Directory of Beds, Hunts and Northants, 1885, p.107).

Listing NGR: TL1426939019

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Francis' Boy's Home at Wikipedia
• Wikidata IDs Q26451793 Q7593076

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

• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)