Former Post Office and attached railings and gate

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 12/02/2020

SJ9223SW 590-1/10/42

STAFFORD GREENGATE STREET (west side) No. 35 Former Post Office and attached railings and gate

(Formerly listed as Post Office and attached railings and gate)

29/07/70

GV II*

Formerly known as: No.35 Chetwynd House GREENGATE STREET.

House, later post office, and attached railings and gate. c1700. Early Georgian style.

MATERIALS: brick with ashlar dressings; hipped tile roof with brick return lateral stacks.

PLAN: H-plan.

EXTERIOR: two storeys; symmetrical five-window range with wings. Moulded ashlar plinth, cornice over ground floor and top entablature; wings have ashlar Corinthian angle pilasters. Entrance has architrave with top panel breaking into pulvinated frieze, broken segmental pediment has later cartouche with c1914 Royal monogram, paired three-panel doors. Windows have narrow sills, rubbed brick flat arches with keys (fluted to ground floor, fielded-panelled to first floor) over 6/9-pane sashes, similar windows to inner returns; wings have windows with architraves, keys and 8/12-pane sashes. Returns simpler, with brick platt bands; left return has windows as to front, late C20 entrance and attached brick post box.

INTERIOR: early C18 panelling with tall panels over dado rail and similar bolection-moulded fireplace.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: front railings attached to building with ashlar base, iron railings with decorative finials and scrolled wrought-iron panels; similar panels flank paired gates with similar details and scrolled overthrow with monogram of William Chetwynd Railings to left return attached to brick post box and extending approx. 11.5m, and are ex-situ.

HISTORY: the home of William Chetwynd, 1684-1770, M.P. and Mayor of Stafford, who is said to have entertained the Duke of Cumberland in 1746, and William Horton, 1750-1832, who built the first boot and shoe factory in Stafford (an important local industry) and was a friend of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, 1751-1816, playwright and M.P. for Stafford 1780-1806, who often stayed at the house and is said to have written 'School for Scandal' there and at an election dinner there proposed the toast: "May the trade of Stafford be trod underfoot by all the world".

Listing NGR: SJ9223423079