45-53 Chorley New Road, Bolton

45–53 Chorley New Road, Bolton

Five two-storey houses (No. 51 with attic space) forming part of a terrace of eight houses built around 1820, architect unknown. They are constructed of brick with stone dressings beneath slate roofs and are linear in plan, with 1990s extensions to the rear of Nos. 45–49.

EXTERIOR

No. 45 has a front elevation of four bays. It features a round-headed doorway with an early panelled door, surrounded by a set-in architrave of fluted wooden columns and a plain fanlight. Windows have been renewed in their original openings and are now 12-pane pivoting windows, each beneath a wedged painted stone lintel. Chimney stacks are shared with No. 43. A stone sill band marks the first-floor level. The rear is occupied by a mid-1990s two-storey extension three bays wide by five bays deep, which is not of special interest.

No. 47 has a front elevation of two bays with matching 12-pane pivoting windows to both floors in their original openings, each beneath a wedged painted stone lintel. A stone sill band appears at first-floor level. A brick chimney stack is positioned on the right side of the roof, set forward of the apex. The rear comprises a mid-1990s gable-end extension sandwiched between projecting extensions to neighbouring buildings, not of special interest.

No. 49 is slightly higher than No. 47, reflecting the gentle upward gradient of Chorley New Road. Its front elevation contains four bays beneath a hipped roof. The leftmost bay is formed from an arched former carriage entrance, now infilled and fronted by a part-glazed doorway and side lights with stained glass. The remaining three bays have a central doorway with an early eight-panelled door beneath a traceried fanlight within an architrave with fluted shafts in the reveals. Windows, including that above the former carriage arch, are modern sashes in original openings beneath wedged painted lintels. A stone sill band marks the first-floor level, and a moulded timber eaves cornice is present. A brick chimney stack is positioned on the right side of the roof, set forward of the apex. The rear elevation has a mid-1990s two-storey extension three bays wide and three deep on its right side. The left side maintains the former rear elevation and is of three bays, now rendered, with modern windows in the original openings.

Nos. 51 and 53 are a reflective pair built slightly higher than No. 49. The entrances have panelled doors with geometric traceried overlights in architraves with recessed panelled jambs and entablature. There are four windows to the ground floor and six above, all 12-pane sashes renewed in their original openings beneath wedged painted stone lintels. A stone sill band marks the first-floor level, and a moulded timber eaves cornice is present. A centrally located brick chimney stack is set forward of the apex.

The rear elevation of No. 51 has a small single-storey lean-to extension to the right of a door approached by a short flight of stone steps. The ground floor is rendered; the upper floor is clad in slate with two roof dormers above. Windows are two to each floor and are modern casements.

No. 53 has a two-storey rear outshot on its left side and a single-storey pitched-roof extension to the right with a rear door between the two. The upper floor is clad in slate with two velux windows to the rear roof. The outshot has a single-storey modern lean-to extension. A rendered rear wall forms part of the right boundary.

INTERIOR

Despite conversion into offices, early features remain in Nos. 45–51, particularly on the ground floor where much of the original plan is retained. A front meeting room in No. 47 retains its panelled door, moulded skirting, dado and coving. Later 19th-century vestibule doors remain in Nos. 49 and 51; the former is half-timbered with stained glass windows, side and over lights, while the latter has a panelled door with a 16-pane side and overlight arrangement. Dog-leg staircases survive with newel posts, turned balusters (stick balusters in No. 45), handrails and carved open strings. Numerous panelled doors remain set in their original moulded architraves.

The interior of No. 53 retains much of its original floor plan. Vestibule doors have been replaced but early side and overlights remain. The front left room contains a panelled door with panels elegantly decorated with mythical creatures, fruit bowls and swag together with the original door furniture. A staircase with bobbin balusters survives, along with an abundance of panelled doors in moulded architraves, moulded skirting and numerous original fire surrounds.