Number 53 And 55 Street Folliott House

Town house, now offices, built in 1788 for James Folliott. The building is of brick, painted to Northgate Street and the south side, with a grey slate roof. It is a narrow, deep structure of three storeys with a painted stone plinth and painted stone sills; window heads are of gauged brick with recessed sashes.

The front elevation to Northgate Street displays two sashes to each storey: those on the first and second storeys have 12 panes, while the third storey has 6-pane sashes. This elevation is finished with a moulded parapet cornice. The south face, which fronts a narrow alley, contains the entrances and most of the fenestration. The first storey includes two replaced 2-pane sashes, a door of 5 fielded panels with a simple horseshoe-shaped radial-bar fanlight, a tripartite sash of 4;12;4 panes, three stone apron steps leading to a door of 6 fielded panels with a reeded middle stile and a cast-iron radial-bar overlight in a pedimented painted stone doorcase with sidelights, two small replaced casements, and a sash opening blocked in brick. The second storey has a replaced 2-pane sash, a tripartite sash of 4;12;4 panes, and a 12-pane sash. The third storey contains three 6-pane sashes. A Georgian rainwater head and old down-pipe are visible. The rear elevation features two 12-pane sashes to each of the lower two storeys and two smaller 20-pane cross windows in reduced openings to the third storey, with a flush gable.

The interior contains deep full-length cellars with a substantial cast-iron range, probably late 19th century (model "The Heald"), and a wine cellar with bins. The first storey rear room retains sub-panels and shutters to windows, some panelling below a partly-removed dado rail, and a painted wood fireplace with fluted pilasters and a Liver-bird with swags, plus a plaster ceiling cornice. East of the entrance hall is a broad timber archway with panelled jambs, now partly covered. The middle room has sub-panels and shutters to the triple sash. The front room is divided with false ceilings obscuring original detail. The substantial open-well stair features open strings with brackets, turned vase newels, two turned balusters per step, and curved landings against the south wall; a full-height corner-post in keeping is a late 1980s insertion.

The second storey rear room retains panelling to the dado rail, shutters to sashes, a plain white marble fireplace, and a plaster cornice. The middle room has sub-panels to the triple sash, a simple wood fire surround, a simple plaster cornice, and double 3-panel doors now blocked but visible from inserted lavatories adjoining. The front room has sub-panels and shutters to windows, a replaced fireplace, and a simple plaster cornice. The third storey rear room contains double 2-panel cupboard doors. Visible surfaces are softwood throughout. The principal room of each storey is to the rear, originally overlooking a now lost garden. A blocked 6-panel door in the east wall of the second storey rear room suggests the stair has been reversed. Most doors have been replaced.

The building was altered after its construction in 1788.