15 and 17, Castle Street

Two town houses, probably originally built as a single, wider property, date to the later 17th century and were altered in the 18th century. They are constructed of Flemish bond brick with a grey slate roof and two gables facing the street. The buildings have cellars, three storeys, and attics, with six windows to each upper storey, likely formerly seven. A sandstone plinth, partly rendered and painted, has a three-light window with chamfered mullions and a one-light grating at No.15, while No.17 has two altered mullioned windows. Painted sandstone flush quoins are present. Each house has three stone steps leading to a four-panel door above two flush panels, with a three-pane overlight within a moulded case and a leaded hood. Damaged stone pilasters flank each door, with the west pilaster of No.15 retaining a frieze and pyramidal cap; a vertical brick joint suggests a possible former central doorway with flush stone quoins. The windows are flush 12-pane sashes with gauged brick flat arches and no sills, with two to the first storey, three to the second storey, and three to the third storey of each house. Some windows have been replaced, while others are covered. The third storey of each house has an opening for a former central window, now blocked with old brick, and there is some evidence of a former central window to the second storey. A moulded lead head serves a cast-iron rainwater pipe; a moulded stone cornice runs along the top of the building. Each front gable has a 12-pane flush sash (that of No.15 has been replaced), topped with pineapple finials at the corner and apex of each gable. There are also two stone balls on the valley parapet. Two brick chimneys are visible on the west wall; the east side is not visible. Two stair windows with six panes are on the west side. The rear has two stone-coped gables. The cellars, which were not inspected closely, have stone-mullioned windows. On the first storey, No.15’s front room has a door of six fielded panels, panelled embrasures, and two chamfered oak beams; the rear east room has two formerly stopped, chamfered oak beams. No.17’s front room has shuttered embrasures with benches, a corner fireplace, and two stop-chamfered beams. Each house features a dogleg newel stair of painted oak with panelled newels, an intermediate rail, and a moulded rectangular handrail; beams are also present on the landings. Upper rooms have chamfered oak beams, corner flues, and, to the front, panelled embrasures with benches. Many doors have been covered, but some are of two fielded panels. The attics of both houses have oak purlins and diagonally-set ridge-trees; No.15 has a lightly timber-framed partition.