Number 10-28 And Steps, Railings And Lamp Holder

Numbers 10-28 Nicholas Street and Steps, Railings and Lamp Holder

This terrace, originally comprising ten town houses and now converted to offices, a sauna, social club and surgeries, was built in two phases in the late 18th century. Numbers 10-22 were constructed in 1780 by Joseph Turner of Chester. Numbers 24, 26 and 28 were built in two stages in 1781 and the early 1780s, with Number 28 extended southwards around 1830. Various rear alterations were made during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The terrace is built of brown brick in Flemish bond to the front, with pale headers to both parts of Number 28, and has grey slate roofs. The design is uniform except for the extension to Number 28.

Exterior

The terrace has a basement which runs out to ground level at the rear, plus three storeys above. Each house has three windows to both the second and third storeys. The rendered basements sit behind short deep areas accessed by external steps. These steps feature an upper quadrant of winders and are fitted with plain wrought-iron rails (derelict at Number 10), stone steps at Numbers 12, 14, 16, 18 and 22, and cast-iron steps at Number 20. The basement doors are not clearly visible. Basement windows vary: Number 10 has two recessed sashes of five panels and nine panes; Numbers 12 and 14 have four panels and nine panes; Number 16 has a replaced framed and battened door and two-pane sashes; Number 18 has a porch under the first storey steps, an inserted small-pane glazed door and a six-pane sash; Number 20 has a five-panel door and three five-pane sashes; Number 22 has a porch, altered part-glazed door and two six-pane sashes; Number 24 has a four-panel door and two nine-pane sashes; Number 26, which is handed in relation to Number 24, has two blocked sash openings and a four-panel door; Number 28 has two nine-pane sashes.

Wrought-iron rails with square balusters shaped above the top rail are fitted to the stone steps leading to the entrances and, on stone plinths, to the fronts of the areas. A wrought-iron arch and lamp-holder stands over the steps to Number 20.

The front doors have five fielded panels with overlights and sidelights set in cases with panelled pilasters, friezes and moulded pedimented cornices, appearing to date from around 1830. The overlights of Numbers 10-18 are glazed to resemble ornate radial-bar fanlights, probably of cast-iron. Number 20 has a plain overlight. Number 22 has one of three panes. Numbers 24 and 26 have leaded stained glass overlights. Number 28 has one with margin panes and diagonal bars. Numbers 10-18, 22, 26 and 28 have four-pane sidelights. Number 20 has two stained glass panes. Number 22 has leaded stained glass. Number 24 has leaded stained glass. Numbers 26 and 28 have stained glass sidelights.

The first storey recessed sashes were formerly all of 12 panes but are now of four panes at Numbers 16 and 18; four panes with moulded bars and round-arched upper panes at Number 22; and two panes at Numbers 22, 24 and 26. A sillband runs along this storey.

The second storey has a sillband and 12-pane sashes, though glazing bars have been removed from the lower leaves at Number 12. The sashes have been altered to four panes at Number 20 and two panes at Number 20.

The third storey has painted stone sills and nine-pane sashes. At Number 18, two have been converted to two panes; at Number 20, two have been converted to dual two-pane sashes with round-arched upper panes; at Number 22, one has been converted to a plain dual two-pane sash; at Number 24, one has been converted to a nine-pane hopper.

The terrace has a fluted frieze, moulded cornice and low parapet, all of painted stone. There are two chimneys to the south end of each house, some of which have been altered. Rainwater heads and pipes are generally of cast-iron.

The two-storey south extension to Number 28, built around 1830, is of thicker bricks with a continuous vertical joint. The doorcase, probably repositioned, overlaps the junction, with a recessed 12-pane sash in the newer wing above. The south bay projects forward to the back of the pavement and has a blank basement storey, sillbands and two recessed 12-pane sashes with slightly cambered painted gauged-brick heads to each of the first and second storeys. It has a boldly projecting cornice. A central chimney flush with the facade has a shaped painted stone plinth and four separated square brick flues.

A large post-war flat-roofed rear extension is of no interest. The rear elevation has numerous alterations but retains a proportion of the original sashes. Features include a canted second-storey oriel to Number 10 with sashes of eight, 12 and eight panes between pilasters (semi-derelict when inspected); sashes of 12 and 16 panes to Numbers 14 and 16; a half-octagonal late 19th-century oriel and two pairs of margin-paned French windows to a balcony with cast-iron railing at Number 18; and an Italianate stuccoed extension to Number 20 with ornate cast-iron rail to the second storey balcony and some windows with round-arched upper panes, as at the front. A lead rainwater head and pipe on Number 18 is dated 1780.

Interiors

Number 10 could not be inspected but has a patterned tiled hall floor, reeded frieze, moulded cornice and panelled shutters to the first storey front window. The stair and other features are stated to be intact.

Number 12 has a margin-paned inner door and overlight, and patterned tiling to the hall and stair-hall floors. Stone steps lead to the basement, which has doors of three and four fielded panels. A barrel-vaulted ceiling parallel with the front runs under the stair-well. There is a cast-iron grate. Stone steps descend to lower cellars which have brick barrel-vaulted ceilings, some sandstone in the lower parts of the walls and brick wine-bins. The first storey doors are replaced. The open-well stone stair has main flights parallel with the front, moulded soffits and tread edges, a tapered newel, three stick balusters per step, swept rail and domed lantern. The second storey front room has a marble fireplace with half-round Delian fluted pilasters and cornice to a two-panel ceiling, some dado panelling, and a door of five fielded panels to the south rear room. The third storey has doors of four fielded panels and panelled embrasures with shutters.

Number 14 has a restored interior. The cellar has brick barrel-vaults and wine bins, with stone steps. The basement has a four-panel outer door in the manner of John Douglas, inner doors of four fielded panels (some replaced by six-panel doors), a brick barrel-vault, and brick-arched recesses for a kitchen range and warming cupboards. A stone stair to the hall has stick balusters and swept rail. The oval entrance hall leading to an oval stair-hall has a replaced marble floor and cornice. The front room has panelled embrasures and shutters, panelled dado, fluted frieze, cornice and repaired ceiling rose. The rear room has panelled dado and a cornice. The stone stair has one flight per storey with moulded soffits and tread-edges, winders at bottom and top, a half-landing, stick balusters and swept rail. The small front room on the second storey has panelled embrasures and shutters. The main front room has panelled dado, embrasures and shutters, a replaced fireplace, cornice and ceiling rose. The rear room has panelled dado, embrasure and shutters, a cast-iron fireplace, a good frieze with pairs of griffins between festoons, and a cornice to a ceiling of two plaster panels with a rose. The stairwell has a modillion cornice and replaced moulded plaster ceiling. The third storey has doors of four fielded panels and simple cornices. The attic has doors of two fielded panels and an Art Nouveau cast-iron fireplace.

Number 16 has a restored interior with some alterations for office use by Digby Harris in the 1980s. The oval entrance hall and oval stair hall behind have tiled floors. Doors have five fielded panels, those to principal rooms being wide. The stone stair in each storey has windows to a quarter-turn at bottom and top and a mid-flight landing, moulded steps, three cast-iron balusters per step and swept rail. The second-storey rear room has panelled embrasures and a moulded three-panel ceiling. The front rooms have panelled embrasures and cornices. There is a curved door to the rear wing. The third storey has two doors of four fielded panels and a modillion cornice to the stair-well.

Number 18 has a two-panel ceiling with rose, a replaced moulded plaster ceiling with probably original modillion cornice to the stair-well, doors of four fielded panels and cornices in the third storey, and doors of two fielded panels and a cast-iron Art Nouveau fireplace in the attic storey.

Number 20 has a restored interior with some alterations for office use by John Tweed in the 1980s. The hall has a patterned tile floor and dentil cornice above a frieze with festoons. On the first storey the front room has a row of broad panels beneath the dado rail and a row of large panels above it, a frieze and cornice, and a brass doorknob and plate. The stair is rebuilt, reusing components from the Italianate refurbishment: carved round newels; two balusters of alternating design with foliar carving per step; and swept rail. Doors have five fielded panels. The second storey front room has a panelled embrasure to the central window and a sub-panel and panelled shutters to each side window, and a cast-iron grate in a wood surround with foliar carving on pilasters and a cartouche between festoons on a frieze surmounted by a moulded cornice with dentils. The third storey has four doors of five fielded panels and one door with round-topped panes of painted glass above two fielded panels. The stair rises to an attic storey with one half-glazed two-panel door.

Number 22, now containing doctors' surgeries, is altered internally. The hall has a patterned tile floor, frieze and dentil cornice. The first storey front room, now partitioned, has a frieze with Classical figures in relief on projecting blocks separated by festoons. The open-well stair to the second storey is altered above the eighth step; the original part has shaped brackets and two stick balusters per step, the leading ones on short plinths. The second storey has three doors of five fielded panels. Across the second storey landing, the open-well open-string stair to the third storey has shaped brackets, turned newel, curtail, two stick balusters per step and swept rail. The third storey has four doors of five fielded panels and front rooms with small cornices. The principal rooms used as surgeries and the attic storey could not be inspected.

Number 24 has a hall with a mosaic floor and painted small panelling. The barrel-vaulted cellars have a closed-string stair with heavy panelled oak newels, three turned oak balusters per step and heavy moulded rail, doors of four fielded panels and brick wine-bins. The first storey front room has a replaced oak door of ten fielded panels, oak panelling with one row below the dado rail and four rows above it, and a fireplace and overmantel of oak with paired terms (without busts), carved frieze and cornice to the mantel with linenfold panelling above containing two bevelled mirrors flanked by an African head on the left and a bearded merman on the right. There is a cartouche with two initials, probably JB. A frieze with swags and fruit sits beneath a dentil ceiling cornice. The stone stair around a narrow open well has four flights per storey, stick balusters and swept rail. The second storey front room, now partitioned, has a plain fireplace and panelled plaster ceiling with festoon frieze and ornate cornice, and a broad opening, now blocked, to the south rear room which has a cornice, as does the north room. The third storey has doors of four fielded panels. The rear rooms have cornices. Two cupboards have round-topped two-panel doors. The stairwell has a domed lantern. The small attic has no features of interest.

Number 26 has cellars with a repaired stone stair and some brick barrel-vaulting. Floors in the main storeys are covered and some are partitioned. There is a small rose-window between the hall and stair-hall. The open-well stone stair to the second storey has moulded steps, turned newel, curtail, two wooden stick balusters per step and swept rail. The first storey has one door of five fielded panels, a similar but altered door, panelled shutters and dentil cornices. The second storey has panelled embrasures with shutters, an iron grate in a marble surround, cornice and panelled plaster ceiling in the front room. The north rear room has an iron hob grate in a marble surround, doors of five fielded panels, a panelled embrasure and a cornice. The altered south rear room has a cornice. The stair to the third storey is similar in form to the lower stair, but of wood. The landing has doors of two fielded panels to a round-topped cupboard. There are five doors of four fielded panels. The south front room has panelled embrasures and a cornice. The north front room has a sub-panel to the window, a surround to a blocked fireplace and a cornice. The rear south room has a sub-panel to the window. The rear north room has a cornice. The stair-well has a domed lantern.

Number 28 had its interior recast when extended around 1830. The lower cellar has no visible features of special interest. The basement has four-panel doors. The closed-string back stair has tapered newels and stick balusters. The first storey south room, altered, has a partly visible heavy cornice. The north front room has a cornice. The north rear room has three French windows with panelled shutters and a cornice in the form of a rod wreathed with oak leaves. The wooden stair, S-shaped to the second storey and around a triangular well to the third storey, has a curtail, two stick balusters per step and swept rail with rose. The second storey has doors of four margined panels, sub-panels to windows and cornices in the front rooms. The north rear room has three French windows with panelled shutters and a cornice formed as a series of horizontal rods, each terminating in foliar mouldings. The third storey rooms have cornices. The attic has no features of special interest.