Stockton Almshouse

The Stockton Almshouse, dated 1897, is a two-storey building with 3 plus 1 plus 3 plus 2 windows facing Dixon Street. A further pavilion with 4 windows fronts Dovecot Street, incorporating an angled corner. The main pavilion is constructed of pink brick with grey stone quoins, sills, and dressings. It features a wooden modillion eaves cornice and a slate roof with six brick chimneys. The windows are glazing bar sash windows. Those on the main pavilion have architraves; the ground floor windows are segment-headed with three keystones, while the upper floor windows are round-headed with a rusticated architrave above the entrance. A pedimented Gibbs doorpiece is present. The angled corner at Dixon Street has a thin ground floor window with the date 1897 worked into the keystone, above a round-headed tablet with voussoirs struck into the quoins. The tablet is inscribed with details relating to the history of the site, noting that the earlier almshouses from 1816 were sold and taken down in 1896, and these buildings were erected in 1897 with funds from the sale. A list of Trustees is also inscribed. The bottom quoin of the angle was laid by Thomas Walton, the Mayor, on 26th October 1896, and this is recorded on the stone. The Dixon Street facade is set back from the larger pavilion. Brick flat arches and stone quoins appear on the windows. The central section projects slightly and is crowned by a pediment containing a blind oculus with four keystones. At the rear of the North return are a pair of four-centre arch-headed windows with lozenge glazing and a label mould.