Almshouses

The almshouses, founded under the will of John Shireburne who died in 1726, are constructed of sandstone ashlar and brick, with the sides and rear pebbledashed and a stone slate roof. They are two storeys high, which is unusual for almshouses. The central portion projects and features a truncated shaped gable topped by a cornice. On the first floor, there is an arcade of three semi-circular moulded arches with keystones, supported by two unfluted Doric columns and two similar half columns as responds. The outer openings have stone balustrades and are accessed by a central flight of 16 stone steps that curve outward at the bottom, featuring a solid parapet with shaped coping. Flanking the ground floor are two open door surrounds with cyma mouldings. Behind the arcade on the first floor are three doors, each with two raised and fielded panels. On the ground floor, visible through the outer stone doorways, are three similar doors and two sashed windows with glazing bars. Each side of the central portion has one bay of the main building, which features sashed windows with glazing bars in plain stone surrounds of quarter-round section. The end gables have copings and chimney caps, while the rear has modern windows with plain reveals.