Foord Almshouses Nos 1-47 With Gate And Forecourt Walls Attached

Foord Almshouses, Nos 1-47, with an attached gate and forecourt walls, were built in 1926 and designed by architect E Guy Dawber. The almshouses are constructed from Flemish bond red brick with stone dressings and feature Kent tile roofs. The layout is in a 'U' shape, forming a courtyard known as Cour d'honneur, which includes a forecourt with a gate and walls.

The buildings are primarily single storey, with two-storey pavilions. They are designed in a neo-vernacular style reminiscent of the 17th century, incorporating Baroque elements. The central axial hall features a three-bay arcaded loggia adorned with four bas relief roundels in the spandrels. There are two additional gabled bays that include mullion and transomed windows, coped parapet gables with finials, and two-light casements in the gables. Above the loggia, the gable of the hall is recessed and has one arched window along with two cross gables. A copper spire with a cupola and dome crowns the structure.

The east and west wings contain four-light casements, segmental pedimented doors, and gabled dormers, all under steep roofs with tall stacks. The pavilions at the angles have conical roofs. The two-storey cross-axis pavilions feature two bays with gables at the center and two dormers on the roofs. The returned gables advance into the courtyard. Two additional single-storey wings mirror the details of those on the north side.

At the entrance, two two-storey pavilions with attics have central gabled bays featuring five-light casements and cross windows to the staircases, along with gabled oriels facing the courtyard. A single stack is positioned on the central axis. The Baroque-style segmental pedimented gate, dated 1927, is flanked by Ionic pilasters and large scroll console brackets, with a balustrade on the east and west sides enclosing the south front of the courtyard. The forecourt is enhanced by an axial wrought iron gate with an overhead lamp. A stone-coped brick dwarf wall features two stone-coped and finialed piers at the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest corners, with taller walls returning to connect with the angle pavilions at the south front.