Number 51 Including Arch And Part Of Wall At Rear

Number 51, including an arch and part of a rear wall, is a mission hall, later used as a job centre, dating from 1901 and built for the parish of St Mary. The building is constructed of rock-faced stone with ashlar dressings, with an older rubble rear wall containing eroded ashlar fragments. The roof is of Welsh slate with grey ridge tiles, stone gable copings, and chimneys, including a central truncated lantern. The building is two storeys with a three-window front. A round-headed vehicle arch is located on the right side, and recessed double doors with a semicircular two-pane overlight are situated to the left of the second bay, contained within a surround of rusticated pilasters and a segmental cornice. The ground floor windows are cross-casements with upper glazing bars; two are in the first bay, one to the right of the door, and one is situated in the third bay to the left of the vehicle arch. Taller windows in a similar style are present on the second floor, paired in the centre and rising through the eaves under gablets. The central gable contains an inscription stone. The rear of the vehicle passage features a moulded segmental arch on the left, above which is an eroded inscription. To the right, on the first floor, is a fragment of carved stone appearing to be a beak-head string with head corbels, as well as a fragment of stone. The interior has not been inspected. The ashlar inscription, previously listed in isolation, was reportedly originally set into an arch leading to a yard in Thorngate (the former name of The Bank). These stones, along with another, are believed to read: ‘Ricardus/ Broun, Abbat cui a'i'e' p'picietur Deus’. Historical records suggest that the site might have been the location of a Friary and Chapel founded in 1381 by the Austin Friars. Stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops are also present.