Minerva Hotel

The Minerva Hotel is a public house built between 1828 and 1829, with alterations made in the mid-19th century, mid-20th century, and late 20th century. It is constructed of brick, partially painted, with ashlar and concrete dressings, and has a hipped and gabled slate roof with two gable and four ridge stacks. The building has a plinth, a first-floor sill band, a wooden gutter with brackets, and is three storeys high with a 4x5 window arrangement. The acute-angled corner site creates a rounded corner feature. The windows are primarily plain sashes and 2-light casements with glazing bars, all with splayed lintels. The south-east front has four sashes above, two casements to the left and two 12-pane sashes to the right. Below, two margin-glazed windows are flanked by splayed concrete doorcases with lintels inscribed "Minerva," and have panelled doors, the right one with an overlight. A fixed 16-pane window is to the left. Cellar openings with lintels are located below the windows. The rounded corner has fixed 16-pane windows on the lower floors, and a smaller 16-pane sash above. The west front has a round-arched glazing bar window flanked to the right by a small window, then a plain sash. To the left are three plain sashes. Above are five casements. Below are four plain sashes to the left, then a small window, and a further plain sash. The interior was mainly refitted in the mid-20th century and partially restored in the late 20th century. Richard Cortis, the first publican, was an active emigration agent during the 1850s.