Lench'S Trust Almshouses

CONYBERE STREET 1. 5104 Highgate B12 Lench's Trust Almshouses SP 08 NE 7/26 26.8.81 II GV 2. J A Chatwin, architect: Built in 1879, a close of red brick almshouses erected along three sides of a rectangular green, with warden's house to centre of open end to street, flanked by railings. An interesting transitional design of Birmingham Gothic with more up to date late Cl7 domestic revival in the rich local idiom of moulded and cut brickwork. Relatively plain almshouse elevations to the green with slight Gothic details to the 2-light windows and stepped dripmoulds to doorways. Shallow gabled breaks penetrate the ranges. Gable end tiled roofs with cresting ridge. Tall vertically ribbed brick chimney stacks on ridge. The end houses to road and the warden's house are more lavishly decorated with cut brickwork and have the late Cl7 revival details. Quoin pilasters and moulded strings, richly moulded and cut eaves. Pediment-gabled slight breaks containing coupled window bays to centre of each front. Steep hipped tile roof with rall ribbed chimneys. The large windows are set in moulded brick architraves with keys. The gables contain circular attic windows with keys and cornices curved over, framed by triangular panels of floral carved brickwork. The warden's house is similar but with window to first floor only, inscribed dedicatory plaque to ground floor and lively floral carved brickwork to gable. The north end of the site is closed by a high screen wall with pointed moulded brick arcading to the upper half. Important group value with the adjacent church.

Listing NGR: SP0769985326