42 and 42a, Church Street

A house, now divided into two dwellings, was built in the mid-18th century. The main block is constructed of red Flemish-bond brickwork with red pointing, a plain parapet, and a clay plain tile roof. A second block to the southeast is of Roman cement-coated brickwork with a steep clay plain tile roof.

The main block is two storeys high with a five-window range of double-hung sash windows, each with small panes, rubbed brick arches, and recessed aprons. A moulded brick cornice runs along the top, with a complex raised band at first-floor level. The centre of the upper floor breaks forward slightly, featuring moulded semicircular brick decoration below the sill. A central, pedimented doorcase features fluted Ionic pilasters, a modillioned cornice, and an interlaced geometrical frieze panel. The recessed door opening has foliate ornament, and the door itself has eight raised-and-fielded panels, the top two retaining original glazing. Reused on the rear outside wall is a shell hood with an enclosed grotesque mask.

The southeast block has a ridgeline stack at the northwest gable end and is two storeys high with attics, including one dormer window within the front roof slope. It has a painted timber modillioned cornice and a large, central canted oriel with double-hung sash windows containing small panes. A painted timber fascia band is positioned at first-floor level. The ground floor features a central 19th-century door with two semicircular-headed panels, providing access to a yard behind the building. 20th-century rear extensions are also present.

Inside the main building, the hallway features a semicircular arch on panelled pilasters, with an eared door architrave. A well-staircase has turned balusters, console tread ends, and Tuscan column newels. Several contemporary doors remain. The southernmost ground-floor room has a modillioned timber cornice, plain panelled dado, and heavily moulded dado rail and skirtings. Windows have panelled reveals. A particularly fine and complete mid-18th century fireplace dominates one wall, constructed with markedly enriched mouldings on a timber carcase. The fireplace opening has an architrave composed of two bands of mouldings, creating a double-eared profile. Long foliate consoles, each with a moulded plinth, flank the opening. The mantel shelf, resembling an enriched cornice, is supported on front consoles with a fret ornament echoing the front doorcase. Above is a further moulded panel with an eared profile, foliate carving, and lateral consoles. The doorway to this room features a contemporary door with six raised-and-fielded panels and architraves.