The Tides And Orford House

The Tides and Orford House are a pair of semi-detached villas built in 1885 by John Belcher for J.Thorneycroft, a shipbuilder. They are constructed of red brick with tile roofs, though Orford House has a timber-clad upper storey and The Tides is tile-hung. Each villa is two and a half storeys high and comprises three bays, with a projecting gabled wing of two bays set forward, joined by a single bay.

Orford House features moulded rubbed brick pilasters to a flat porch supported on timber brackets. The front door is of five panels, with a three-light overlight. A canted bay window sits on a brick base, featuring a five-light window with metal casements in timber frames; the upper lights are small leaded panes separated by a moulded transome and cornice. A small-paned sash window is located to the right return of the wing. The upper storey is timber-clad with a tile-hung gable apex. First-floor windows are three-light and two-light mullioned windows with metal casements, again with small paned upper lights. A second-floor window consists of three small opening lights. A timber balcony is positioned above a segmental arched bracket supported on a central timber shaft. The ground floor has a segmental-headed three-light timber mullion and transome window with leaded upper lights. A similar first-floor window is also segmental-headed, with a three-light casement and small paned upper lights. A full dormer window features three small-paned lights, and the gable has a gable end stack.

The Tides has a recessed entrance under a red brick arch with a moulded rubbed brick head. The front door has pronounced stiles and rails, with an arched top. A canted bay window sits on a brick base, mirroring the fenestration of Orford House, with metal casements in timber frames and small-paned leaded upper lights. A small-paned sash window is found on the left return of the wing. First-floor windows are single and two-light casements with four panes to each upper light. A door is situated on this left return. The second floor features a three-light metal casement with leaded lights. A balcony mirrors that at Orford House, with a bracket completing a segmental arch. The ground floor has a segmental-headed three-light timber mullion and transome window with leaded upper lights. A first-floor, similar two-light window tops the ground floor. A full dormer window now has replaced lights. A gable end stack is also present. Interior details are not available, but it is stated that Orford House contains a turned baluster staircase. A common ridge stack serves both houses.