Numbers 43 And 44 And Attached Railings

Numbers 43 and 44 are a pair of houses, now used as offices, with basement railings, dating from around 1800. They are constructed of red brick and topped with a slate roof, featuring wrought-iron railings. The buildings rise three storeys and have a basement, with three first-floor windows. The central entrance has a panelled door set in a stone surround, complete with a fanlight and cornice, while there is a round-arched entrance located far to the right. The windows are wide and segmental-arched, with sashes that include glazing bars; the central windows are sashes, and the flanking windows are tripartite sashes, all with stone sills. A stone band runs along the first-floor level, and there is a wooden eaves cornice supported by gutter brackets, along with end stacks.

Inside, the buildings are part of an office complex that extends from Nos 40 to 44. The staircase leads up to the second floor and features plain rails, column newels, and a ramped handrail. There is also a reputed original fireplace in one of the ground floor rooms. The plain railings outside complement the overall design. These houses were among the later constructions on the Wilson estate, built for merchants relocating from the crowded medieval town centre.