Britannia Chambers And Attached Area Railings

Britannia Chambers, located at No. 22 on Thorpe Road, is a house that has been converted into offices. It was built in the late 19th century, possibly by G. Skipper. The facade features Costessey tiles, with a red brick basement and gable ends, and a plain tile roof. The building has two storeys, an attic, and a basement, with a symmetrical arrangement of three first-floor windows.

Access is via six steps leading up to panelled double-leaf doors with a plain fanlight, situated in a canted porch that has moulded pilasters and a broken pediment. On either side of the porch are two-storey canted bay windows, which have mullioned and transomed windows supported by fluted half-columns. A frieze adorned with moulded mermen figures runs along the top. The central first-floor window is flanked by moulded half-columns that support a scrolled pediment. The attic features two-light windows on either side, each with moulded pilasters and curved pediments, along with a central wooden dormer that has fluted pilasters and a pediment.

Inside, the entrance hall contains three six-panelled doors with broken pediments, as well as another half-glazed door with stained glass. The staircase is notable for its elaborately carved arcade, newel posts, and strings, complemented by a ribbed plaster ceiling with a moulded cornice. There is 20th-century cladding on the doors on the first floor and 20th-century partitions on the attic stairs.

The area railings are made of elaborate wrought iron, attached to the porch and set on a dwarf brick wall, which is flanked by a garden wall with plain brick panels and a moulded tile frieze to the right. A passage gate to the left adjoins the left boundary wall, which features stepped coping. The building also showcases fine interior joinery.