North Gates And Almshouses

The North Gates and Almshouses are two ranges of almshouses originally built in 1757, which have been significantly remodeled and connected by a Gothic entrance screen in the 1840s by S. S. Teulon. These almshouses are constructed of gault brick and feature steeply pitched shingled roofs. They are single-storey buildings with two-light casement windows set in chamfered brick surrounds, each with a central mullion. The casements are adorned with cast-iron tracery that forms octagonal patterns. Each range has two entrance doors topped with four-centred brick arches. The gables are crow-stepped and include finials. Each building has two large chimney stacks along the ridge line, with twin diagonally set shafts and moulded tops.

Both blocks are linked to a central gateway by a gault brick screen wall, which is pierced by five four-centred arches that have continuous rectangular drip moulds above. Wrought iron screens are present in the openings, and the wall features roll-moulded brick coping. The central four-centred arched gateway to the park is flanked by angle buttresses and has a stepped and coped overthrow, also made of gault brick, which includes a decorative tripartite panel.