Sir John Port Almshouses

The Sir John Port Almshouses, dating to 1681 and around 1690, with later repairs, were built by the governors of the former Sir John Port almshouses. They are constructed of red brick with stone dressings, quoins, and copings to the plinth and first-floor string course. The steeply pitched roof is covered with plain tiles, featuring ridgeback copings, moulded kneelers, and large brick rear wall stacks with stone dressings. The north range’s stacks are of a T-plan with three diamond section brick pots linked at the top.

The almshouses consist of 16 cottages, 12 arranged around a courtyard and four others joined later to the east at the southern end. At the centre of the north range is a pedimented archway providing passage through the building. The arch has a semi-circular head with a raised keystone and imposts, moulded edges, set within an ogee-moulded flat-headed recess. Above the arch is a moulded string course and an inscribed marble plaque encased in a bolection moulding. The plaque commemorates Sir John Port, who in his will left an estate to establish a free school in Repton and an almshouse in Etwall. It details subsequent rebuilding, salary increases, an increase in the number of residents from six to twelve, and lists the governors as of 1681. Above the plaque are three painted coats of arms set in cartouches set within moulded surrounds, each featuring a mask at the top and scrollwork. A plain frieze is topped by a swan-neck scrolled open pediment with a central achievement. To either side of the arch are two cottages, each with a central, chamfered, four-centered arched doorcase flanked by two-light recessed and chamfered mullion windows with diamond-leaded lights. Above those windows, dormers have ridgeback copings to the gable and a central two-light recessed and chamfered mullion with a dripmould. Four similar cottages are situated to the east and west. Four cottages are attached to the east with a stone, four-centered arched doorcase.

The interiors are simple, with winder staircases.