23, Foregate Street

This is a three-story house, built in 1792 for Rufus James, and subsequently altered, particularly in the mid-19th century. It now serves as offices. The exterior is constructed of pinkish-brown brick in a Flemish bond, with a stuccoed plinth, stone steps, sills, and architrave. The roof is slate, with truncated brick end stacks featuring an oversailing course and pots. The front façade has four windows on the first floor. The windows are renewed, featuring 1/1 sash windows in plain reveals, with sills and flat arches of gauged brick. The off-centre left entrance is reached by two roll-edged steps leading to a four-panel part-glazed door, with decorative cast iron grids in the upper panes, fluted lower panels, and a fanlight with Gothick glazing bars. The architrave incorporates a Doric frieze and an open dentil pediment. A renewed cyma moulded cornice tops the façade. The rear of the building retains two first-floor tripartite windows with a 6/6 pane between two 2/2 sashes, alongside 6/6 and 3/3 sashes.

The interior retains a number of original features, including plasterwork and joinery. A six-panel inner door has renewed stained glass and a fanlight with radial glazing bars. The hall has a Minton tile floor. Panelled shutters are present on several windows. Most of the doors are six-panelled, with raised and fielded panels. The main, narrow, open-well staircase extends to the full height, with stick balusters, a ramped and wreathed mahogany handrail, carved tread ends, and a lightwell. A dog-leg service staircase also exists. Embellished cornices are found in the ground-floor front rooms and hall, with modillions in a rear ground-floor room, and embellished cornices on the first floor. The front right room features a grey marble, Regency-style fireplace with an Art Nouveau brass grate. A large fireplace is located in the rear kitchen. The first floor retains a white marble fireplace with fleurons, alongside a further Regency-style white marble fireplace. The attics contain two fireplaces, and a cellar provides wine storage.

Historically, in the 18th century Foregate Street was known locally as "the mall," and a guide from 1802 described it as a fashionable promenade due to its paving and width. The building forms a group with the Shire Hall, Statue of Queen Victoria, City Museum and Library, and several neighbouring properties. Information regarding the building's date and original owner was obtained from deeds and the present occupants.