Description

James Gowans, dated 1884. Imposing pair of semi- detached houses, 2-storey and attic over raised basement; rectangular-plan with central projections to NE and SW; squared and coursed rubble with cream sandstone dressings, droved quoins; chamfered reveals; Gowans' 'stick-style' detailing of vertical ashlar and rubble banding to aprons of canted windows and chimney stacks; pen-nib carving to dormerheads; paired stone brackets to eaves; ashlar mullions.

NE (front) elevation: 4-bay; mirrored about centre; 2-bay central piend-roofed stone porch projection with 2 tripartite windows at ground floor, basement doors (later alterations) and narrow flanking windows below; panelled doors with lugged architraves on returns, accessed by stairs with pierced ashlar balustrades and decorative railings; single windows in outer bays; 1st floor window to each bay breaking eaves with pedimented dormerheads.

SW (rear) elevation: 3 advanced bays flanked by narrow blank bays; central full-height 4-light canted window breaking eaves with half-piended roof; single windows in outer bays, 1st floor windows breaking eaves with pedimented dormerhead; bipartite window at basement on return.

NW and SE elevations: each comprised of 2 full-height canted bays breaking eaves with half-piended roofs; carved timber apex panels to gambrel roofs.

Timber sash and case windows, some casements, mostly 4- or 8-pane upper sashes, plate glass or 2-pane lower sashes; green slate roof, lead flashings, 2 cross-sectioned corniced stacks (see above) with decorative serrated cans, large rooflight to SW; ornamental cast-iron gutterheads; single storey garage to SW.

Interiors: not seen 1992.

Low boundary wall with saddleback coping (heightened in places), square gatepiers at No 3, decorative cast-iron gates.

Statement of Interest

The whole house was owned by Gowans widow, Lady Mary Brodie Gowans at least until 1899.

Recommended Books

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)