The Close

The Close is a former workhouse, dating to 1840 and designed by Sir G.G. Scott. It comprises flats and houses, and is constructed mainly of red English bond brick with slate roofs. The building is divided into three main parts: an entrance range containing a chapel and board room, a 'U' shaped courtyard range providing the majority of residential and service accommodation, and two terraces of staff houses built in the later 19th century.

The front range is largely single-storey, with a two-storey entrance block featuring a central four-centred carriage arch and an oriel window above. The side ranges have projecting parapetted gables and slated lean-tos at the rear. All are constructed of red brick with black brick diapering, quoins, and dressings of gault brick. Each wing has three paired diagonal shafted stacks, and additional gable end stacks at the ends. The main block is four-storeyed in the centre, with three-storey wings of a similar design, containing iron casement windows. The central section features two, three-storey, five-sided bay windows with parapetted gables above. A central ogee-capped cupola, likely influenced by the nearby 'Clock House', is also present. Large end stacks are located at either end of the centre, and a series of substantial stacks run along the rear wall. The wings have short return blocks at each end with projecting, central, parapetted gables. The rear elevation echoes the detailing of the front, with a three-and-two storey wing returning on the south end and continuing as lower service blocks to form an east range enclosing three sides of a garden court. In the northeast corner is a two-storey coach house with an arched opening, now blocked. A range of two-and-single storey blocks runs parallel to the south boundary, incorporating a forge and ancillary service buildings.

To the east are two terrace blocks of houses, also dating from the later 19th century. These are built of red English bond brickwork with gault brick dressings, with storey marking and a string course. The longer range has a low-pitched gable in the centre, with paired gabled porches at the ends. Both ranges feature a regular pattern of closely spaced double-hung sash windows with large square panes and rubbed gault brick heads. The front gardens are separated from the road by simple iron railings mounted on low red brick walls with square brick piers demarcating the boundaries of each unit. There are numerous stacks located along the central ridge line and gable ends, and through both front and rear roof slopes.