14-20 Sugden Place

Pair of two-storey cottages and an attached single-storey cottage, early 19th century. Coursed hammer-dressed stone with ashlar dressings, artificial-stone slate roof coverings to numbers 14 and 16, sandstone-slate roof coverings to number 20.

Numbers 14 to 20 Sugden Place form a linear range aligned north-east to south-west, with number 14 at the north-east end, number 16 in the middle, and number 20 at the south-west end. They are located in a fold arrangement of buildings in a yard to the rear of numbers 6–12 Beck Hill and numbers 30–34 Beck Hill, all of which are listed at Grade II.

Numbers 14 and 16 are two storeys; number 20 is single storey. All three properties have modern strap-pointing.

Numbers 14 and 16 are two-bay cottages forming a mirrored pair on their front (south-east) elevation. Each has a doorway to the ground floor of the inner bay and windows to the outside bay and first floor. Small later bathroom windows with ashlar surrounds have been inserted to the first floor above the doorways. Both houses have replaced glazing; number 14 has uPVC casements, whilst number 16 has early 21st-century timber sashes. The 1983 List description records both houses as having two-light mullioned windows and plain doorways in flush stone surrounds. The doorways and their surrounds survive with replaced doors; number 14 has a uPVC door with a modern gableted hood, whilst number 16 has a modern timber door with a large diamond-shaped glazed panel. The mullions have been removed from the windows of number 14 on this elevation. On the rear (north-west) elevation, number 14 is treated with faded whitewash. A two-light mullioned window survives to the first floor; a corresponding ground-floor window has been partly blocked up and reduced in size, with a ventilation grille inserted into the blocked-up section and a metal grille added in front. Number 16 also retains its two-light mullioned window to the first floor; its corresponding ground-floor window has been converted into a doorway with a sidelight. All windows retain their original surrounds. The 1983 List description records numbers 14 and 16 as having a stone-slate roof with coped gable ends; the roof coverings have since been replaced in artificial stone slate and the copings removed. A low brick ridge stack exists at the north-east end (number 14) and a sandstone ridge stack at the south-west end (number 16).

Number 20 was originally a pair of cottages known as numbers 18 and 20 Sugden Place but was converted into a single dwelling in the late 20th century. All windows have replaced glazing but retain their original surrounds. Originally there were two doorways to the centre of the front (south-east) elevation flanked by three-light mullioned windows to the two outer bays; the former doorway to number 18 has been converted into a window with a modern sandstone surround. The doorway to number 20, now the sole entrance, has a modern uPVC door but retains its original surround. A single-light window exists to the south-west gable end, with two windows to the rear (north-west) elevation. Part of the rear wall has been rendered. A short brick chimneystack exists at the south-west end of the roof's ridge.

Interior

Number 14: internally, numbers 14 and 16 would originally have had one room to each floor. Number 14 retains a single room to the ground floor with a low breakfast-bar-style pine counter dividing the space into two, with a lounge in the front part and a kitchenette to the rear with laminate flooring. The chimneybreast survives and is flanked by varnished ceiling beams running across the room. A modern gas fire and surround have been inserted. An enclosed stone winder stair is aligned with the entrance and has a modern six-panel pine door at the foot; the stair's treads are hidden by modern carpet covering. An under-stair cupboard has a modern louvred door. The first floor has been partitioned to create two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small landing area. In the front bedroom the chimneybreast has partly exposed stonework and an ashlar fire surround is visible; the fireplace opening itself has been blocked up.

Number 16: the ground floor and first floor of number 16 have been partitioned. The ground-floor lounge has a modern partition with an arched opening, which creates a separate kitchen at the rear. The chimneybreast survives and a late 20th-century gas fire and surround have been inserted. A painted ceiling beam runs across the room to the left of the chimneybreast; that to the right has been removed due to the inserted partition. A stone winder stair is aligned with the entrance; the treads are hidden by modern carpet covering but are visible in an under-stair area with a stone-flag floor. The flooring on the ground floor (apart from the under-stair area) is hidden by modern carpet and linoleum, but possibly has stone flags underneath. The first floor has been partitioned to create two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small landing area. The landing has a ceiling hatch providing access to the roofspace, which is used as a storage space. The roof is composed of machined timbers, including side purlins and rafters, and has a single truss comprised of a Queen-post frame supporting the two principal rafters. A stone chimneybreast is visible at the south-west gable end of the roofspace.

Number 20: originally there was probably a single room to each interior of numbers 18 and 20; that to the south-west end (the original number 20) remains as a single space now used as a lounge, although a low brick wall has been inserted towards the rear to create a separate kitchen area and a vestibule created inside the entrance. A chimneybreast survives and has a modern gas fire and brick surround that is a continuation of the kitchen wall. Modern partitions have been inserted in the north-east half of the interior (the original number 18) to create two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a hallway. A substantial ceiling beam running the full depth of the building is visible in the lounge and is most probably the tie beam of a roof truss above. A corresponding beam is visible in one of the bedrooms and has been boxed in.