11, The Foregate

WORCESTER

SO8455SE THE FOREGATE 620-1/12/607 (East side) 05/04/71 No.11

GV II

Shop and offices. c1890s with later additions and alterations including those c1970s. Reddish-brown brick and terracotta with sandstone ashlar to first floor and dressings; concealed roof and copper dome; left end brick stack with ashlar cornice and pots. Free classical, mostly in Northern Renaissance style. 3 storeys plus attic, 4 + 1 first-floor windows (including that to canted angle). First floor: to left window are bands with depressed panels over, Ionic column in antis with 4 lower bands, 2 pairs of Ionic columns with 4 lower bands, Ionic column in antis with 4 lower bands; 4 bands and sunk panel to either side of canted angle. Windows have ovolo-moulded sills. Continuous cornice over first floor. First floor windows: single light, three 2-light windows, single round-arched light to angle. All with moulded surrounds and mullion and transoms; window to angle has scrolled keystone. Similar 2-light mullion and transom window with Ionic columns in antis to return. Second floor: left and central bays break forward; continuous sill band; to left and angle an oculus with wreathed surround, tall keystones, that to left interrupting open pediment on corbel brackets, that to angle meets continuous cornice with egg and dart frieze and modillions. Otherwise three 2-light mullion windows with fanlight over in eared and shouldered tooled surrounds and with similar tall keystones. between these 3 windows and to either side of angle are cartouches. Similar round-arched window and cartouche to return. Upper stage: banded. Ashlar upshot at left with ornate cartouche and festoons. Central upshot with 3-light window and Ionic columns between with cornice and segmental pediment over. Scrolls to angles and broken pediment with central obelisk. Tower to angle has 2 oculi and shaped cornices over, then open octagonal dome with cambered-arched opening to each side, pilasters on scrolls between with faces to top, cornice breaking forward over faces, and dome surmounted by urn. Banded parapet and end acroteria with cartouche to return. Continuous moulded cornice. Ground floor: entrance to left, now blocked, in panelled reveals and with segmental arch and central keystone between pilasters with wreaths and scrolled console brackets to continuous egg and dart cornice. 2 similar pilasters to angle and another to right return. Otherwise glazed shop front and off-centre right entrance. INTERIOR: dogleg staircase has moulded handrail and stick balusters. Nos 11-15 (consecutive) The Foregate comprise a fine late Victorian commercial group in a spirited Northern Renaissance style.