Former Royal Albert Orphanage

The former Royal Albert Orphanage, later a YMCA hostel and subsequently converted into student accommodation, was built in 1868 and designed by William Watkins. It was extended in 1885, likely also by Watkins, with the addition of "The Wheeler Wing" on the left side, which is dated 1885. The building is constructed of red brick with Bath stone dressings, and has a gabled slate roof with iron cresting along the ridges. Brick axial and gable-end stacks are also present.

The building’s plan is an 'E' shape, with a long front range and an axial passage across the back. At the rear are curving wings to the left and right, leading into a central hall, originally situated behind a walled playground. In 1885, wings were added at either end of the front range, and further ranges were constructed at the rear, enclosing the playground. The style is High Victorian Gothic.

The exterior presents a symmetrical facade with eleven bays; the end bays, dated 1885, are slightly projecting with stepped gables, finials, and elaborate bay windows. These windows contain integral first-floor oriels with small, corbelled gables and finials. The central bay features a two-storey polygonal porch with Venetian-style columns, depressed two-centred arches, stone broaches, and a ribband plaque displaying the date. The roof of this section is steeply pitched, hipped, and has an iron finial and a cusped circular light in the gable above. The flanking three-bay sections have small corbelled gables over the second-floor windows, breaking the eaves. First-floor windows have small, blind pointed arches above their lintels. Ground-floor windows have arched stone lintels. The windows are a mix of sashes and casements. The central roof is cross-gabled, with ornate ridge cresting and a short slated spire at the center, topped with an iron finial and a small lantern. A rear wing, dated circa 1885, is a single-storey brick structure that runs across the back of the yard. Two and three-storey towers with pyramidal roofs are located at the rear, behind the end wings.

The interior appears utilitarian. The dining hall at the back features an open timber roof with arcading above arch-braced collars.

The orphanage was constructed with funds raised through public subscription.