Beckminster House

WOLVERHAMPTON

SO89NE BIRCHES BARN ROAD 895-1/4/371 (South West side) 02/03/92 Beckminster House

II

Large house now teachers' centre. c1845, altered. For John William Sparrow, a local iron-master. Red brick with ashlar dressings and blue-brick diaper work; patterned red and blue tile roof. 2 storeys and attic; asymmetrical 4-bay front to double-depth plan with central stair-hall. Tudor Revival style. Chamfered plinth; ashlar quoins; square-headed, mullioned and transomed windows mostly with hoodmoulds. Ashlar porch, near centre, has double-chamfered, 2-centred arch with carved hoodmould stops and blind-traceried spandrels; stained glass to lancet windows in each return; parapet with roll-moulded copings which step over a blank shield. Bay 4 projects and is gabled: 3-light windows set within diaperwork, 2-light window to attic. To left of porch are two single-light windows to each floor, cross-window above porch. Bay 1 is also gabled and has lateral stack with quoins and offsets; the chimney shafts missing. Both gables with kneelers and copings; the main roof between has 2 roof dormers and 2 ornate stacks to the ridge and others to rear. Rear: ashlar bay-window to ground floor on left. Projection on right with corbelled corner details and gabled half-dormer to hipped roof with iron finial. Right return: 5 bays, the gabled centre breaks forward and has a transomed 3-light stair-window with Gothic Revival tracery and leaded lights. INTERIOR: Gothic Revival wooden staircase with spiral-turned balusters linked by cusped arches under a moulded handrail; square newels with sunken panels and with finials and pendants. Stair-hall has painted ashlar fireplace with shield, ribbons and sunken quatrefoils. Principal rooms to front-right and rear-right have excellent fireplaces; one has iron grate with tile insets in white marble surround with 2-centred arch and traceried spandrels; the other of dark crinoidal limestone and in similar style. 1st floor: octagonal ceiling panel on landing; several marble fireplaces with shields.

Listing NGR: SO8997897198