The Crescent

The Crescent is a curved row of shops and houses, now converted into six residential properties, built in 1823 for John Parkinson. Later alterations were made in the 20th century. The building is constructed of red brick with hipped slate roofs, with pantiles to the two leftmost bays. Red brick stacks are located centrally and on the outer six-bay wings.

The main central section is six bays wide and two and a half storeys high, flanked by two-storey, six-bay wings that are slightly set back. A further single-storey, two-bay wing projects to the right, and a two-storey, two-bay wing projects to the left. The central section has overhanging eaves and raised brick and dentil bands marking the first and second floors. The two-storey right wing features moulded eaves and a raised brick and dentil first-floor band. The central section has large shop windows flanked by moulded pilaster strips with brackets and an entablature above. Each window has nine panes, with the brickwork beneath being bowed. Either side of the shop windows are doorways with panelled doors and overlights, similarly surrounded by moulded pilaster strips with brackets and an entablature. Glazing bar sashes are located on either side of the doorways. Above these are six similar sashes, with smaller sashes on the top floor, all with cambered arched flush wedge painted brick lintels.

The right wing has, from left to right, a single glazing bar sash with a cambered arched flush wedge brick lintel, a doorway with a panelled door and overlight surrounded by moulded details, a 20th-century shop window, another single sash, a doorway with a glazed door and similar surround, and a final glazing bar sash with a matching lintel. Above these are six sashes and matching lintels. The two bays on the far right have a stepped parapet with a band matching the other details. A single similar sash and lintel is present, with a blocked doorway to the right, also with a similar lintel.

The left two-storey wing has, from right to left, an enlarged doorway with a glazed door and surround, two garage doorways with similar surrounds, a single glazing bar sash with a flush wedge brick lintel, a doorway with a panelled door and overlight set within a similar surround, and a further glazing bar sash with a flush wedge lintel. Above these are six glazing bar sashes with flush wedge brick lintels. The projecting two-bay wing on the far left is curved to the right and has two 20th-century cross casements on each floor. The ground floor on the left is situated within a former doorway with a plaque over inscribed "P 1823".

The Crescent was built to house workers employed by John Parkinson in his factory for weaving crepes and bombazines. Parkinson reportedly obtained permission shortly after 1816 to lease land between Revesby and Boston from the Crown.