Hillcrest

Hillcrest is a house built between 1919 and 1922 by AF Scott and Sons of Norwich for WHH Clarke. It features red brick in two shades and has a hipped slate roof with two brick ridge chimneys that have moulded caps. Designed in a Georgian style, the house has two storeys and an attic, with five symmetrical first-floor windows. The ends of the building have rusticated quoins, and there is a slightly projecting central bay. A set of two steps leads up to a projecting porch, which has windows in the side end walls. The entrance includes a six-panelled door with an overlight featuring glazing bars, all framed by a moulded brick architrave and flanked by pairs of corner pilasters that support an entablature and blocking course. The principal windows are 16-pane sashes set in flush-fronted wooden frames, topped with flat gauged brick arches that include keystones. A moulded brick string course runs along the building, and a modillion cornice with egg and dart decoration extends around the central pediment, which has an oculus with glazing bars. There are also two decorated lead rainwater down-pipes. The garden front displays four 16-pane sashes at the first floor, with two canted bays below, and features three 2-light dormers, the central one topped with a curved pediment.

Inside, the elaborate entrance hall is adorned with raised and fielded panelling, an Ionic columned screen, and an early Georgian style staircase with turned balusters and carved trend ends. The fireplace in the hall has a moulded and carved stone and wood surround, with festoons of carving above it. The interior quality is generally high, showcasing fine doors and fireplace surrounds, dado panelling, a moulded cornice, and a coved ceiling in the drawing room, as well as panelling and a richly moulded cornice in the dining room. The original architects' account mentions a significant amount owed to Waring and Gillow, suggesting that this distinguished firm may have been responsible for the woodwork in the house.