3 And 4, Highfield Road B15

HIGHFIELD ROAD 1. 5104 Edgbaston B15 Nos 3 and 4 SP 0585 NW 39/17 II GV 2. Circa 1830 pair of semi-detached 2 storey late Regency stucco villas. Symmetrical design overall with pediment gable wings flanking centre range of 2 broad bays with entrance bays in corners. The ground floor channelled and screened between wings by good tent roof verandah of 7 bays articulated by scrolled iron plaster standards, the end over broader opposite doorways. Slate roofs, shallow eaves frieze. Ground floor of recessed range has French casements giving onto the verandah. Arched doorways have lunette fanlights with radial mouchette pattern, first floor windows: plainly revealed sashes to No 4 but with splayed eared architraves at No 3. The wings with moulded pediments have similar first floor windows but circa 1860 pilastered pent roofed canted bay windows on ground floor. No 3 has slightly recessed service wing, with 2 windows as on main house, and downswept shaped parapet to roof. Service wing to No 4 set much further back, altered except for first floor window. J.R.C Tolkien (1892-1973) lived at No 4 191O-11.

Listing NGR: SP0506585944