20, The Cross

WORCESTER

SO8455SE THE CROSS 620-1/12/601 (West side) 22/05/54 No.20

GV II

House, now shop with offices. c1720 with later additions and alterations including 1960s attic dormers and 1980s shop fronts. Reddish-brown brick in Flemish bond with ashlar quoins, sills and cornice, stuccoed keystones and parapet and plain tile roof, hipped at right and with rear brick stack; timber shop front; stucco to ground floor, right return. 3 storeys with attic, 2 first-floor windows. First and second floors have 8/8 flush sashes with flat arches of gauged brick and fluted keystones with cornice, sills. From first floor are quoins. Crowning parapet with dentil cornice. Ground floor has renewed plate-glass shop front and glazed central door in period style surround. Right return has 4 first-floor windows. End quoins and cornice as front facade. First and second floors have one 8/8 flush sash, then 6/6 flush sashes with flat arches and keystones as front facade. To left end the shop front continues from front facade, then the ground floor is stuccoed with horizontal rustication. Right end entrance a glazed door. INTERIOR: retains original plasterwork and joinery including moulded cornices and panelled doors with panelled reveals. HISTORICAL NOTE: Occupies a good corner site with Angel Street at the unction with The Foregate and St Nicholas Street. Nos 20 and 21 (qv), The Cross form a significant group of listed buildings at this city centre crossroads together with Church of St Nicholas and Lloyds Bank, The Cross (qqv) and Nos 1, 1A and 3, Angel Street (qv) together with Nos 11 and 12, Foregate (qqv) and Little Venice Restaurant, St Nicholas Street (qv). They also have good group value with other listed buildings in The Cross (qqv), and all forming an important visual framework for this entrance to Worcester city centre.