St John's House

St John’s House comprises two houses at Nos. 5 and 6, St John Street, in Hereford. The front of the building dates to the late 18th century, but the core structure is from the early 18th century. The building is constructed of brick, with a slate roof and brick ridge and end stacks. It has a two-unit plan and extends over three storeys and a cellar, with an eight-window front. The upper windows are six/six sashes under gauged brick flat arches, while the windows over are three/three sashes; a brick modillion detail runs along the eaves.

At No. 5, the central entrance is marked by a six-panel door and a plain overlight within a round-headed, panelled case. This is topped by a moulded open pediment hood resting on scrolled and fluted consoles and flanked by pairs of six/six sashes. No. 6 features a part-glazed, fielded-panel door and swagged fanlight set within a gauged brick semicircular arch, with two six/six sashes to the right. Twin gable wings project from the rear and incorporate various plain sashes, including two/two and tripartite examples, a moulded brick band and dentilled eaves. A returned side and rear wing of early 18th-century brick are present at the right of No. 6, featuring a square stack. The rear gable has a mix of 18th, 19th and 20th century windows, all set within segmental arches.

The interior of No. 5 includes a late 18th-century staircase with stick balusters to the second floor. Features include four-panel doors, overlights, fireplaces, and a blocked alcove with a beaded architrave. The first floor exhibits ceiling cornices, tiled fireplaces, six-panel doors and panelling to a ceiling beam. The hall is notable for its polychrome tiled floor, cornice, six-panel doors with architraves, a margin-glazed rear door with a plain overlight, and embossed ceilings plus fluted pilasters. The ground floor has three fireplaces, wall cupboards, a ceiling cornice, and plank doors. The cellar is partly stone-lined with an 18th-century brick vault.

No. 6's interior showcases an early 18th-century dogleg staircase with a moulded string and rail, and barley sugar twist balusters. The second floor is characterized by four-panel doors, while the first floor has two-panel, a four-panel door, chamfered ceiling beams and signs of possible framing. The ground floor has a six-panel door and a late 19th-century panelled dado. The cellar is stone-lined with a brick vaulted ceiling and stone steps.