Description

BERWICK UPON TWEED

622/0/10111 COXONS LANE
25-NOV-10 Berwick
(Off)
RAMPART HOUSE
COLLEGE PLACE
Berwick
(Off)
RAMPART HOUSE

II
A large townhouse in a prominent position constructed shortly after 1799 with mid-late C19 additions.

MATERIALS:
This building is of painted incised render with a painted plinth and dressings. The roof is of Welsh slate with stone gable copings and yellow brick chimneys.

PLAN:
It is rectangular in plan, aligned north-south.

EXTERIOR:
The property is of three stories and cut into the slope so that access from the east is to the first floor and from the west and south at ground floor level. The southern bay, a later addition, is divided from the c1799 section by a line of stone gable coping and a chimney. The east, main facade is of four bays with side steps up to a platform in front of the main entrance in the third bay, enclosed in a C20 porch set within a C19 wrought iron stair balustrade. There is a wood-plank door with strap hinges to the south face of the external stair. Windows to the top two floors are four-pane sashes in raised stone surrounds, while the ground floor has two small C20 windows to the south of the stair. The west, garden front has a mixture of four and two-pane sashes set irregularly; the first floor of the original section is blind. At ground-floor level there is a modern door to the centre of this section, giving access to a self-contained flat. The south gable has a late C19 six-panel door and a small window to the second floor, while the north gable end facing the Ramparts is blind.

INTERIOR:
The first floor of the c1799 section is accessed via the porch entrance to the east or the service range to the south. Directly opposite the main entrance there is a closed string, straight-flight stair with a room to either side. Both rooms have mid-C19 high quality marble fire surrounds with later inserts; the room to the south has a C20 gas fire, while that to the north has an Art Nouveau, late C19 grate. Both rooms retain their window shutters, picture rails, skirting and architraves. Doors to this floor are four-panel, save for a wood-plank cupboard door to the south room and a late C19 six-panel external door to the porch.

The second floor has a corridor running along the west side of the building and a room on either side of the stair; the northern bedroom spans the depth of the property. Window shutters, skirting and architraves survive to both rooms and the corridor. The wood fire surround and grate to the north room is mid-C19, while the surround to the south appears to be a c1799 survival retaining the supply for a gas fitting to the mantel, with a mid-C19 grate. All doors are four-panel aside from a wood-plank cupboard door with strap hinges to the north room. The south end of the corridor has been knocked through into the later range. This section houses small ancillary rooms plus a separate W.C. and bathroom with roll top bath, both retaining their wainscoting. All doors are four panel and the supply for a gas fitting to the landing remains in situ.

The ground floor of the c1799 section currently houses a self-contained flat. Some late C19 doors and architraves survive, however the area has been largely modernised, with a kitchen and bathroom inserted. Any original fireplaces have been removed, while structural beams have been exposed by the current owner.

The ground floor of the south bay retains a late C19 range to the north wall and a winder stair leading to the first floor with stick balusters to the south east. A former storage room/larder with later kitchen cupboards is housed under the stair. The first floor landing has a room off to the west with a four-panel door and an Art-Nouveau style fireplace. The original section of the house is accessed via an inserted opening which appears to have been knocked through the former cupboard to the main room. A supply for a gas fitting survives above the opening to the landing.

Roof timbers to the original section of the building are a mixture of hewn and sawn, suggesting some later repair.

HISTORY:
This building was constructed shortly after 1799, the site having been referred to as a garden on deeds of this date. It is clearly depicted on John Wood's map of 1822. It was built as a symmetrical, three bay house with a later bay added to the south. It is thought this extension was constructed in the mid-C19 and received a later upgrade of fittings in the late C19 judging by its Art Nouveau detailing, however the map evidence is not clear and there is a possibility it may have been added in the late C19. An additional projection to the south was demolished some time after the 1932 OS map; this is likely to have been a lean-to outbuilding or similar. At some point after the 1924 OS map an entrance porch was added to the east, atop the earlier external stair. The current owner bought the property in 1989 and since this time has updated the original section of the ground floor for letting purposes. The function of this ground floor was superseded by the addition of the service range to the south.

SOURCES:
McCombie, G, 'Survey of Berwick upon Tweed'. Unpublished Buildings Report for Northumberland County Council, (2003)
Fuller's Map of 1799 held at Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office
John Wood's map of 1822 held at Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION:
Rampart House, a house of c1799 with mid-late C19 upgrading, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Date: the c1799 portion of this building remains distinct, with an intact original internal arrangement
* Development: the evolution of the property is clearly readable both internally and externally, with the increase in status during the C19 reflected in the fabric of the building through distinct phases
* Period features: the property retains a good proportion of original fixtures and fittings for a property of this early date, as well as high quality later additions

Reasons for Listing

Rampart House, a house of c1799 with mid-late C19 upgrading, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Date: the c1799 portion of this building remains distinct, with an intact original internal arrangement
* Development: the evolution of the property is clearly readable both internally and externally, with the increase in status during the C19 reflected in the fabric of the building through distinct phases
* Period features: the property retains a good proportion of original fixtures and fittings for a property of this early date, as well as high quality later additions

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26675160

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

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  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
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  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings