The Gables

The Gables is a block of private flats constructed in 1907 by Herbert and William Collins, exhibiting influences of the Arts and Crafts and Jugendstil styles. The building is constructed of red and grey-brown brick, with tile roofs and dressings.

The symmetrical facade is arranged in seven alternating bays across three storeys. The central and alternating bays are in grey-brown brick, punctuated by offset brick stacks with a decorative chequered pattern of red brick and buff tile at ground floor level. A wide elliptical red brick arch provides access to the recessed entrance, leading to a pair of tongue and grooved panelled doors with small-paned upper lights, set beneath a segmental arch. Flanking the entrance are six-pane fixed timber windows with square leaded lights, also set within segmental red brick arches. A continuous band of first and second floor timber casements with square leaded lights is arranged in a 1:3:1 pattern, separated by red brick shafts, with tile hanging between the storeys, all under deep, low eaves. The third floor features a fine cast iron balcony in a Jugendstil style. The intervening bays are in red brick, with a paired gabled bay projecting forward slightly, flanked by single bays treated similarly. The gabled bay has segmental arched three-light sashes on the ground and first floors, featuring small panes in the upper sash. Upper-floor small-paned timber casements are placed under segmental relieving arches, with some replacements evident. Similar two-light windows are present in the flanking bays. The outer bays have half-hipped roofs with gablets to the return elevation. A facetted gable on the two-storey canted outer bay features segmental headed sash windows, the upper sash with small panes. The visual continuation of the inner roofline leads to a gabled upper storey set against a grey-brown brick offset stack, incorporating a four-light timber casement with small panes under a segmental brick relieving arch. A third-storey corner casement, with two lights to each face, is set within a pebbledash-rendered wall.

The return elevations feature pairs of external grey-brown brick stacks projecting through the eaves line and bisecting the line of upper storey casements, with one light visible on the inner flank of the roadside stack. Second-floor offset stacks are tile-capped, continuing in red brick to the eaves and as a rectangular shaft above. A lozenge of buff tiles is set diagonally at second floor level. The south-west stack has been reduced. Rear angles replicate the upper storey treatment with corner casements set in a pebbledash rendered wall.

The interior has not been inspected.

The Gables represents a fine example of Edwardian flat design, sharing design elements with the nearby Birchwood Mansions (1907), also by Herbert and William Collins. It occupies a prominent position within an outstanding enclave of Edwardian suburban architecture, fronting Fortis Green and Fortis Green Road.