Point House

Point House, dated 1701 with later extensions, is a substantial house originally comprising three storeys and a basement, with five windows. It is constructed of multi-coloured stock brick with a stone-coped parapet concealing the roof. A slightly projecting centre section features urn finials on the parapet; projecting stone quoins are rusticated on both the ground and first floors. A frieze band sits below the parapet, and a heavy, moulded cornice is positioned at the second-floor level, incorporating a broken pediment in the central section which shelters a modern oriel window (a surviving original can be seen on the rear wall). A band runs across the first-floor cills. The basement is rendered. It is possible that the entire second floor was added later in the 18th century, as the gauged brick window arches are flat on this level, contrasting with the segmental arches on the lower floors; these arches are built of pinkish brick. The first-floor centre window is framed by a shouldered, moulded architrave, and all windows are early 19th-century recessed sash windows with glazing bars. A modernised central doorway is enclosed within a Doric doorcase, featuring a triglyph frieze and segmental pediment. There is an early 19th-century, three-storey, two-window projecting left wing, with many of its windows now blocked, and a late 19th-century, single-storey, two-window projecting right wing.

The interior includes a hall with early 18th-century panelling and a screen across the left end, formed from two fluted Ionic columns with side pilasters. Niches are located behind the screen, flanking the door to a dicing room. A wide staircase has a carved cut string, S-curved undertreads and a spiral newel. High relief plasterwork decorates the landing and staircase walls, with motifs including swags, shells and eagles. The house was formerly occupied by Rowland Hill, the founder of the penny post.