12A, 14 and 14A New Street

A pair of houses was built in the second half of the 18th century and subsequently used as offices before conversion into student flats. The building is constructed of red brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with brick dressings and a slate roof. It occupies the end of a terrace, facing east onto New Street, and has an approximately U-shaped plan. This consists of a recessed main range and splayed side wings, with a rear wing on the north side of number 12A, which incorporates the former outbuilding to number 14.

The three-storey building has a double pile plan with an M-shaped roof, tall brick chimney stacks, and a moulded brick cornice. The recessed central section is five window bays wide, flanked by splayed side wings. Two brick bands run across the facade just above lintel level. The ground and first floors of the recessed range have six-over-six pane sash windows set in flush casing with segmental brick arches and painted stone keystones. The second floor is lit by three-over-three pane sashes, with the central bay above the passageway featuring false windows. There are two doors at the sides and a central passageway door, all within classical doorcases of simple but varied designs; only the central doorway retains Gothic bar tracery, and none of the doors are original. The splayed wings have a single window to each floor on the sloped face, mostly pairs of four-over-four pane sashes.

The north return has six-over-six pane sash windows on the ground and first floors. The rear elevation is dominated by a double-height bay window on the left-hand side, lit on both floors by large multi-pane windows under brick arches consisting of stretchers.

The interior has undergone various phases of alteration and remodelling during its conversion into offices and student flats. It retains little historic joinery, fixtures or fittings. Surviving features include a few ceiling cornices, moulded door frames, a semicircular arch alcove, and several fireplaces. One fireplace has a wooden surround and moulded mantelshelf with a plain frieze and corner blocks suggesting the top of pilasters. Another has a wide surround with panelled jambs and a wide mantelshelf supported by consoles, all painted black. The semicircular arch inset is typical of the mid-19th century. A simple staircase has a closed string, chamfered square newel posts with flat cap finials, and two slender turned balusters per tread. The cellar is brick-vaulted.