Eagle House (formerly the Eagle Star Building)

Eagle House

A former insurance company office, now in use as estate agents, built in 1940 for the Eagle Star Insurance Company. The architect is unknown.

The building is clad in mock timber-framing, probably applied over a brick skin, and has a plain tiled roof. It forms part of a terrace on the north-east side of Barker Street as a single-windowed range of three storeys.

The principal elevation faces the street in a gabled form, executed in neo-Tudor style. The ground floor is dominated by a timber shop front framed by fluted pilasters rising to curved console brackets that support a deep frieze. Paired doorways with Tudor arches and oak-panelled doors flank a central three-light mullioned and transomed window. The window comprises a wide Tudor-arched centre light with two narrow flanking lights of four-centred form. All arches are stilted; the transom lights contain small-paned glazing incorporating bullion glass. The spandrels around both doors and window are carved with vine scroll decoration. The upper storeys are jettied, with moulded bressumer beams; the second-floor beam features large brackets. The first floor displays two curved wind braces and a canted oriel window of 1:4:1-mullioned lights. The second floor has a four-light mullioned window, above which sits a tie beam inscribed with the date '1940' in relief Gothic script. Upper-storey windows are set over lozenge-shaped decorative panels and feature small-paned glazing with bullion glass. The gable itself is detailed with lozenge-shaped panels and ornate barge boards carved with vine scroll decoration, capped by an eagle finial.

The ground-floor office space, accessed through a left-hand doorway via a vestibule containing a late-20th-century glazed door, has a late-20th-century tiled floor and suspended ceiling. At the rear stands a small annex, separated from the main space by a timber-framed doorway with sidelights and a fanlight containing small-paned glazing and spiral-shaped window catches. A doorway in the north wall leads to a vestibule of the right-hand doorway, beyond which is the staircase access. Both doors have plank-and-batten outer faces with vertical fillets, ledged and braced inner faces, strap hinges, studs and a glazed panel. The two upper storeys follow identical layouts: a front room spanning the full width and a smaller rear room. At the rear, off the half-landings, are toilets and storage cupboards. The first-floor rear office retains a Tudor-arched fireplace with moulded surround and carved spandrels, finished with a raised keystone. Built-in storage cupboards flank the fireplace; the left-hand cupboard has glass doors with small-paned glazing, while the right-hand cupboard features wooden panelled doors with carved relief work. Both cupboards are fitted with dentilled cornices, carved strapwork and butterfly hinges. The remaining office rooms are more plainly appointed but retain original skirting boards, door and window joinery, and spiral-shaped window catches throughout. Half-glazed doors with brass handles provide access to each office. The staircase features an open string with panelled newel posts topped with moulded caps, stick balusters and a moulded handrail.