The Clock House

The Clock House, built around 1852, is a purpose-built block of flats originally intended for the employees of Elvaston Castle. It was commissioned by Lady Harrington and has undergone some later alterations. The building is constructed of red brick with stone dressings, incorporating stone bands at ground floor lintel level and first floor sill level, with the west facade featuring moulded dressings and the east facade featuring flush dressings. It has slate roofs with crested ridge tiles, stone-coped gables on moulded kneelers, a brick ridge stack, and external brick gable stacks which have been capped at ridge level.

The building is two storeys plus attics, with three bays. The west elevation, facing Elvaston Castle, is the main facade. It features a central moulded four-centred arched doorcase with incised spandrels, flanked by single-light windows, a large lintel which was formerly inscribed 'Refuge for the poor', and a returned stepped hoodmould. Two-storey bay windows flank the entrance, featuring 4-light recessed and chamfered mullion windows to the front and single-light windows to the sides. Above, similar windows are present, with two recessed and chamfered windows to the centre, linked by a returned hoodmould. Above these is the Harrington coat of arms in a moulded stone surround, and above that, three half dormers – the central dormer with a tall, shaped gable surmounted by a flame finial, and the side dormers with simpler eared gables. The central dormer window is a two-light design with cusped headed lights and incised spandrels, set below a returned hoodmould. The side dormers have three-light recessed and chamfered mullion windows with taller central lights and stepped returned hoodmoulds.

The street-facing elevation has three gabled bays, with the central bay recessed. This section features a moulded doorcase flanked by side lights, and 2-light recessed and chamfered mullion windows on either side. Above are three similar windows, and above those, three smaller windows. A clockface is set within a stone surround with a returned hoodmould, located below the central attic window. All windows are either two-pane casements or fixed lights. The interior contains original panelled doors but is otherwise quite plain. The building is partly listed due to its historical interest as an early example of purpose-built flats for the working class.