The former Milnes' Orangery, formerly the Unitarian Chapel Hall

Former orangery, late C18 or early C19, for Mary Bridget, Dowager Viscountess of Galloway, daughter of Pemberton Milnes. Converted into a school mid-C19 by Westgate Unitarian Chapel, converted to offices late C20.

MATERIALS: stone ashlar and stucco, red-brown brick to the rear, stone stacks, Welsh slate roofs.

PLAN: the original central block has its long principal elevation facing south, set back and at an angle to Back Lane. It is extended with a parallel range to the rear and is flanked by later wings, entrances being via these wings.

EXTERIOR: a single-storey structure with hipped roofs constructed in the neoclassical ‘Adam’ style.

South elevation: this has a five-bay arcaded central section (the original orangery) flanked by two smaller ranges each of five bays, these wings being slightly set back. The central section is framed in an order of ashlar engaged columns with feather capitals, supporting a frieze of garlands and paterae with a dentil cornice above. Between the columns there are stone arches with moulded imposts, the central arch being glazed, retaining narrow glazing bars, the flanking archways having stuccoed infills, each containing a hornless sash window with glazing bars and a stone sill. On the right return, there is a modern inserted door.

The mainly stuccoed flanking wings are divided into bays by pilasters supporting a plain ashlar entablature, dentilated stringcourse and blocking course. The left wing has a modern central door flanked by four recessed hornless sash windows with glazing bars and stone sills. Beyond this to the left, is a small extension in stone with a flat roof. The right wing is similar to the left, but with a door inserted into the right-hand bay.

North elevation (rear): has exposed local red-brown brick to the various later additions which also feature segmental headed windows with stone sills and recessed sashes with glazing bars. The rear central extension also has a hipped roof, with two stone stacks within the valley.

INTERIOR: retains a number of sets of window shutters. The right wing has a coved, groined ceiling.