Tower House

Tower House is a mid-18th century house, later altered, now used as a shop and flat. It is located on Severn Street, Worcester. The building is constructed of reddish-brown brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with stone quoins and a plain tile roof.

The exterior is three storeys high, with five windows on the first floor. It features a chamfered plinth with quoins extending to the full height of the building. Most windows are 6/6 sashes, although some are 1/1 horned sashes, all set in near-flush frames with flat arches of gauged brick and keystones. The eaves are ornamented with modillions. The ground floor includes a shop window with plate glass, pilasters decorated with strapwork and dragon masks to the corbel capitals. The central entrance has a four-panel double door, the upper panels glazed, and the lower panels elaborately decorated with strapwork within a surround of fluted pilasters and lion-head masks topped by a modillion 'gable' that sits above a round brick arch. The rear of the building retains 8/8 sashes in plain reveals, with sills beneath flat arches of red rubbed brick and keystones, and a matching modillion eaves band.

The interior includes an open-well staircase with balusters shaped like rod on vase, square knops (two per tread), and cylindrical newels. The doorcase inside the entrance has a pulvinated frieze and a broken pediment with a bust. A room to the left contains an alcove with raised and fielded panel cupboard doors, shaped shelves, and a dentil cornice. A 19th-century fireplace features columns and foliate decoration. Further interior features include a cupboard with panelled doors and a dentil eaves cornice, and a room to the right with inserted panelling in a 17th-century style, a carved strapwork frieze, and a dentil cornice, along with a similar alcove and 6-panel doors.

Historically, Severn Street, formerly known as Frog Lane, was associated with Worcester's salmon fishing families until netting was prohibited in 1929. Tower House occupies an important position near Edgar Tower, College Green, and contributes to the group value of nearby buildings at Nos. 2-16 Edgar Street and No. 12 College Precincts, all of which are set in relation to the Cathedral.