Hunter Lodge

718/0/10164

GWENDOLEN ROAD 138, Hunter Lodge

10-SEP-01

GV II Row of houses, now local authority hostel. 1897. By Arthur Wakerley for the Wycliffe Society for the Blind on land given by the architect. Red Brick with slate roof and brick ridge and end stacks. Plain and fishscale tiles to pentice roof. Simplified Queen Anne style with Dutch gables to wings.

Originally row of six houses, projecting wings on ends with recessed centre having long pentice of canted bays. Two storeys with attic in wings. In all a six-window range at first floor of 8/2 sashes with paired 6/1 sashes in the wings. In the centre are four canted bays, each with 4/1: 8/2: 4/1 sashes. To sides of bays are part-glazed panelled doors with overlights. On the wings are a 6/1 paired sash to ground floor and an 8/2 sash to the attic. Gauged brick flat arches with keyblocks to all windows except bays, those to ground floor on wings are basket-arched. In the centre of the front is a plaque in cut and moulded brick with curved pediment. Inscription reads 'Erected by the Wycliffe Society for helping the blind on site presented during his mayoralty by Alderman Arthur Wakerey 1897-8'.

The row were converted to a hostel in 1967-1970 but the front is unaltered. Forms part of a very significant group of buildings built for the blind by the Society beginning with this row, then Wycliffe Hall (now Sam Cooper Day Centre), followed by 65-75 Gedding Road (qv) and then, by the Leicestershire and Rutland Insititution for the Blind, the Workshops and Lodge (qv). This embodied the ideas of the Society as expressed in Edwin Crew's book of 1912 'City of the Blind at Leicester'.

Listing NGR: SK5884804837