61, Broad Street

61 Broad Street, Worcester

This Grade II* listed building on the south side of Broad Street is a house, possibly with an original shop, now converted to a bank with office accommodation. Formerly known as Cupola House, it dates from around 1740, though it may have earlier origins. Ground floor alterations and a shopfront were added around the 1980s.

The building is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond with stone and artificial stone dressings, with a concealed roof. It rises four storeys over a single bay. Quoins extend from the first floor to full height. A segmental pediment with ornamental urns at the sides crowns the façade.

The most distinctive feature is a series of three Venetian windows, one on each of the first, second and third floors. Each is set within a near flush frame and topped with a round stuccoed arch and a human figure head keystone. The first floor window has a central 6/9 pane window with Moorish-style glazing bars to the round arched head, flanked on either side by 3-pane lights on plinths with cornices. The second floor Venetian window contains a central 6/6 sash with similar Moorish-style glazing bars to the head, again between 3-pane lights with cornices and a long moulded sill. The third floor repeats this arrangement with a 6/6 sash featuring radial glazing bars to the head. The ground floor has been renewed with a modern shopfront incorporating a glazed window and part-glazed entrance set back at the left.

The building's most remarkable external feature is a domed belvedere, or cupola, which rises over the stairwell. This structure is accessed through a pointed doorway with a plank door at the front, leading to a roof terrace. The belvedere is flanked by two blind pointed windows and displays pointed windows with Y-shaped glazing bars on its east and west sides, with a further similar window to the rear. A cogged band divides the lower and upper portions. Four x-shaped tie rod ends are visible at second and third floor level. A fall pipe with a lead rainwater head descends the façade. The rear elevation retains 6/6 sashes.

The interior preserves much original joinery and plasterwork. An open newel staircase with a Chinoiserie balustrade and shaped handrail rises to the full height of the building. The landing features plank panelling to the dado.

The first floor front room is notable for its wooden chimneypiece with an eared surround embellished with egg and dart moulding and shell motif, carved swags and frieze. A cupboard to the right has a 4-raised-and-fielded-panel door, while raised-and-fielded panelling extends to the dado and window surround, which incorporates a window seat. The rear first floor room contains a Victorian cast iron fireplace. The second floor front room displays Gothick plasterwork to the ceiling and a chimneypiece with flanking pilasters, cornice, cast iron H-grate and kettle hook. A cupboard features a 4-panel door. The second floor rear room has a chimneypiece with a C18 eared surround topped by a shelf frieze fashioned from what appears to be a late 16th-century Welsh Dragon frieze, with a moulded cornice above.

The third floor contains two rooms with 2-panel doors (raised and fielded to the front, plain to the rear) hung with HL hinges. Both rooms contain fireplaces with roll moulding and cast iron grates.

The belvedere above rises as a rectangular room entered through a trap door at the top of the stairwell. It contains a pointed door opening onto the roof and another into a rear room at a slightly lower level. The belvedere serves as a gazebo with pointed doors and sparse Gothick plasterwork decoration to the ceiling. A rear window is strategically aligned to overlook the tower of Worcester Cathedral.

The three figure-head keystones surmounting the Venetian windows are of particular interest. They appear to represent different social types: the keystone to the upper floor depicts a cleric, turning to the right; that to the second floor shows a soldier, also turning right; while that to the first floor may represent a lawyer or merchant, turning to the left towards the direction of the river. The symbolic significance of these figures remains unknown.

The building's history is well documented. During the 19th century, it was known as Cupola House. In 1831, it was the residence of Edwin Lees, a naturalist and printer who wrote the Natural History of Worcestershire and The Stranger's Guide to Worcester. In 1837 it was home to Thomas Louis Woodall, a bookbinder and seller. From 1896 to 1940 it was owned by Miss H Burrow, a corset and stay maker.

Broad Street itself has considerable historical significance. By the 16th century, it was the second most commercially important street in Worcester after the High Street, lying on the direct route through the city from Worcester Bridge and containing the business premises of numerous important traders and at least two inns.

No. 61 forms part of a significant group of listed buildings along Broad Street, which includes Nos. 10, 10A, 11, the Crown Inn at 12, 18, 19, 29, 32–36 (consecutive), 40, 41, 43–49 (consecutive), 51–63 (consecutive), 69, 70 and the Church of All Saints.