Numbers 51 And 53 And 55 And Attached Railings

Numbers 51, 53, and 55, with their attached railings, are a row of three houses dating to approximately 1832-1836, with later additions and alterations. They were built by Thomas Williams Oldham of Southam. The houses are constructed of pinkish-brown brick with painted stucco to the front and left facades, stucco to the right facade, a Welsh slate roof, and cast-iron railings.

The houses are two storeys, with a six-window arrangement on the first floor, divided into sections of 2:2:2. A first-floor band is marked by pilaster strips at the ends of each house. The windows are 6/6 sashes throughout, set in plain reveals with sills. The facade features a continuous eaves band, a cornice, and an embattled parapet to Numbers 51 and 53.

The ground floor entrances are located to the right of Numbers 51 and 55, and to the left of Number 53. Each house has two roll-edged steps leading to a part-glazed door with an overlight. Numbers 51 and 53 share a joint tristyle Tuscan porch with engaged pilasters, a frieze, a cornice, and an embattled top, while Number 55 has a distyle Tuscan porch with a low parapet. Canted bay windows are present, with Number 55’s right-hand bay having a 6/6 sash between two 2/2 sashes, and the others featuring 1/1 sashes. The rear of Number 55 has six 6/6 sashes.

The interior of Number 55 includes a staircase with stick balusters and a wreathed handrail. Shutters are present on some windows, and original marble and cast-iron chimneypieces remain.

The boundary railings between Numbers 51 and 53 have pairs of bars with paterae between them.

Historical records indicate that the land was sold in December 1833 to Number 55, with a covenant requiring that any buildings constructed were “Villas or Dwellinghouses of the value of £600 each with cemented or stuccoed fronts." Leam Terrace was laid out around 1828-1836, and most of the properties on both sides, as far as Willes Road, were completed by 1841. The row of houses forms an architectural group with Number 49.