The Towers

1. 5111 BROW LANE Clayton/Yews Green BD14

The Towers SE 1031 48/312

II

1. Circa 1880-90. The Towers was built and designed by Julius Whitehead, the founder of Clayton Fireclay Works, as his own residence. A substantial 2-storey rectangular house on a prominent hillside dominating the works. Conventional fenestration but the materials and decorative details proclaim Whitehead's products. The house is built of double size, brown-red salt-glazed bricks with leaf decorated fireclay plat bands and frieze below a pot bellied balustraded parapet. At each corner are crenellated salt glaze brick and square turrets. The three window entrance front has 2 light ground floor windows with similar decorated plaques to those on Ceramic House but the mullions also have fireclay leaf decoration. To the right of the doorway is a projecting rectangular bay with a 2 light window; alternate white bricks to frieze, balustraded parapet with miniature turrets complementing those on the roof. Fireclay leaf pattern sill band. Coloured glass to upper part of sashes. The return garden front is of 4 windows with similar details and decoration. The interior is unaltered with fireclay and tiles being used frequently in the decoration. The drawing room fireplace is an early example of an underdrawn type with a suspended glazed tile hood. The staircase has salt glazed treads the sides having fruit and leaf decoration. About the house and grounds are numerous examples of decorative salt glazed wares produced by the firm including urns, rustic seats and reclining lions. A particularly unusual house in an otherwise stone built area.

Listing NGR: SE1081831283