The Towers

The Towers comprise a pair of houses built around 1860 on Fonnereau Road, Ipswich. They were later converted into seven flats during the late 20th century. The houses are constructed of white brick with slate roofs and exhibit a monumental, symmetrical design. They are three to four storeys high.

The central element features a two-window range. The ground floor has a pair of canted bay windows; the bay window on the right (No.12) retains a pierced parapet. Above are two horned sashes; the one in No.12 has 8/8 glazing bars, while the one in No.14 does not. A saw-toothed string course runs below the second floor. Further sashes are set within developed architraves under the eaves, with No.12’s having 3/3 glazing bars and No.14’s lacking glazing bars. An eaves course of brackets supports a gabled roof with a large common stack.

Flanking the central bays are two square four-storey towers. Each tower has shallow clasping pilasters and, at ground floor level, arched entrances. The first and second floors of the towers are lit by small 4/4 sashes with raised surrounds; glazing bars are missing from the first-floor sash of No.14. Viewing rooms at the top of the towers have two arched casements to each facet, with glazing bars. Above the viewing rooms is a projecting cornice and a plain parapet with caps on the clasping pilasters.

The towers are framed by a two-storey, single-bay block on either side. These blocks project from the facade, feature clasping pilasters, and have pedimented gable-ends. The ground floor of these blocks has canted bay windows fitted with horned sashes without glazing bars. Each block has a Venetian window on the first floor; No.12’s has a central 4/4 horned sash, while No.14’s does not.

Internally, the entrance to the staircase in No.12 has been blocked. The staircases are closed-string, with turned balusters and octagonal newels. The buildings form part of a group of fine houses along this road.