St Marys Chambers And Attached Railings And Gates

This is a mid-19th century solicitor's and former Town Clerk's offices, built in two phases to the front, with later additions to the rear and interior alterations. The building is constructed of red brick, stuccoed to the front and left return, with a slate roof.

The building is two storeys high. The left-hand range is symmetrical with three bays, while a single-window gabled section is set back to the right, behind railings. The left range has a plinth with foot scrapers and vermiculated rusticated quoins, with channelled rustication to the ground floor. A central round-arched entrance is recessed, with a plain fanlight in a vermiculated rusticated surround. Twin windows have two round-arched plate-glass sashes in pilastered surrounds with sills and keyed arches. A first-floor sill band runs across this range. First-floor windows are 2/2 sashes with vermiculated keys and shaped dripmoulds with moulded stops. A moulded cornice sits above, topped by a coped parapet. Hipped roof with end stacks.

The gabled section to the right has a round-headed entrance with a vermiculated rusticated surround, a foot scraper, a door beneath a plain overlight, and a panel in the tympanum with a relief inscription reading "ST MARY'S CHAMBERS". To the left of the entrance is a tripartite window with a central canted bay featuring segmental-headed 2/2 sashes in a pilastered wood surround, covered by a tented roof, flanked by single segmental-headed 1/1 sashes. A first-floor sill band is present. The tripartite first-floor sash is a 1/1:2/2:1/1 arrangement with a vermiculated key and shaped hoodmould. A coped parapet tops the gable, which features a finial.

The left return displays a first-floor sash with margin bars in a keyed, shouldered architrave, alongside a moulded cornice and parapet. A small, flat-roofed conservatory has glazing-bar sashes with narrow pointed-arched lights.

The interior was altered in the 20th century but retains original staircases, moulded plasterwork cornices, alcoves, and stained glass windows to the rear right.

The building is accompanied by cast-iron railings and a gate with elaborate openwork panels and finials.