3 And 4, Lansdowne Crescent

Two semi-detached houses numbered 3 and 4, dating from circa 1835-40 with later additions and alterations. Built in Worcester on the north-east side of Lansdowne Crescent.

The houses are constructed with painted stucco over brick with hipped slate roofs. Three painted brick stacks rise from the left return and from the front and rear roof slopes at the party wall, all featuring oversailing detail and pots. A timber bay window with flat lead roof, timber balcony and pergola distinguish the left house, while the right house has a timber porch.

The buildings follow a double-depth plan with entrances in the left and right returns and to the rear. The original symmetrical elevation was altered by the addition of a range to the left. Both houses display two storeys with basement and attic accommodation. The front elevation shows five first-floor windows arranged 1:2:2. The stucco is lined to represent ashlar, with detailing including a plain eaves band to all elevations.

First-floor windows are 8/8 sashes with external blind-boxes except to the left house, all with sills. The left ground-floor bay is a late 20th-century replacement with moulded cornice and bracketed eaves, featuring multi-pane glazing with transom lights. To the centre and right of No.4, late 20th-century French windows have been inserted, each leaf of two panes with overlight and external blind-box. The ground level below these windows has been reduced to form a semi-basement with inserted French windows. A late 20th-century balcony and pergola have been added. To the left is a single-storey basement extension with a 20th-century window and door, its parapeted flat roof serving as a terrace to the bay window above. Ground-floor windows to No.3 are 8/8 sashes with external blind-boxes; 4/8 sashes serve the basement.

The left return is painted brick with a central five-panel, part-glazed door. A 6/6 near-flush sash under segmental arch lights the first-floor, with a semi-circular lead-roofed dormer to the hip-end containing a four-pane window.

The rear elevation to No.4 is red brick with 4/4 and 8/8 sashes in near-flush frames under segmental rubbed brick arches and with stone sills. A replacement three-panel door with overlight provides access.

The right return is painted stucco. Set back towards the rear is a narrow two-storey extension with flat lead roof. Steps lead to the west-facing entrance, which has a six-panel door with upper panels glazed and bottom pair flush-beaded. The fanlight follows a circle-and-teardrop design. The moulded architrave, reveals and soffit feature raised beading panel design. A Tuscan-style porch (canopy substantially rebuilt circa 1993 following dry-rot outbreak) has a single fluted column rising from a low flank wall to the steps. The first-floor has a reinstated 8/8 sash. The south face of the extension has paired 1/1 sashes in plain reveals with sills to ground and first floors. A similar dormer to the hip-end contains a 3/6 sash.

The rear of No.3 is painted brick with near-flush 8/8 sashes to the first-floor under segmental arches and with sills. A square bay to the left ground-floor has moulded and bracketed cornice, two mullions and transom lights. A 20th-century single-storey flat-roof porch to the right has a window and part-glazed door.

Interior: No.3 retains some original features including panelled doors, shutters, skirtings, architraves and plaster cornices. The staircase has stick balusters and a wreathed handrail. An altered two-storey brick and slate coach house forms part of the north and east boundaries of No.4.

The additional range to the left and the extension to the right return appear on the 1886 Ordnance Survey map. Due to their elevated position, vehicular access to these houses could only be achieved from the east via Lansdowne Crescent Lane, introducing formality to what would normally be the rear elevations. The 1886 Ordnance Survey map shows Nos.10 and 14 as exceptions with carriage drives from the west off Lansdowne Crescent. Nos.1-15 (consecutive) and Nos.17 and 18 Lansdowne Crescent form a good group of listed buildings, comparing well with other developments of this period in Worcester such as Britannia Square, Lark Hill and Rainbow Hill Terrace.