Royal Exchange

WORCESTER

SO8554NW MEALCHEAPEN STREET 620-1/17/436 (South side) 18/02/99 No.13 Royal Exchange

GV II

Public house. C1890 with later alterations. Stucco over brick with glazed tiles to ground floor; slate roof, hipped to left and with rounded angle. EXTERIOR: 4 storeys, 3 first-floor windows. The angle of the building is curved on plan. Stucco detailing: first floor has horizontal rustication, second and third floors are scored in imitation of ashlar; pilaster strips from first floor to full height to left end and between second and third windows. First, second and third floors have 6/1 horned sashes throughout, those to angle are curved on plan, those to first floor have mainly etched glass to lower lights; all in plain reveals and with eared surrounds and feet, those to first floor have canted sills, otherwise continuous moulded sill bands; those to first floor have pulvinated friezes and cornice, those to second floor have raised segment to centre. Ground floor: entrance to angle a part-glazed door with cambered overlight with stained glass; further entrance to left a 6-panel door. Plinth, shaped sills, three wide plate-glass windows (some retaining glass etched with 'Mitchell & Butler') with stained glass to cambered overlights, with bulbous pilaster strips between; scrolled keystones over windows and tiled frieze which reads continuously around front and return: 'MITCHELLS & BUTLERS. WINES & SPIRITS ROYAL EXCHANGE / MITCHELLS & BUTLERS GOLD MEDAL ALES AND STOUTS.' Right return has similar fenestration with 3 first-floor windows and 4 windows to ground floor with further entrance a panelled door. INTERIOR: quarry tile floor to original hallway, but internal walls have been removed; moulded cornices; marble fireplace at right. HISTORICAL NOTE: a similar ground-floor frontage to the Eagle Vaults Public House, No.2 Friar Street (qv). An externally fine example of public house architecture, prominently sited.