Smythes Almshouses

Smythes Almshouses, built in 1659 by James Smyth, a Citizen and Salter of London, are a notable example of 17th-century architecture. The building is two storeys high, constructed of brick on a projecting plinth, with a string course at the first floor level. The eaves are moulded and feature a break in the centre that displays a coat of arms and an inscription.

On the first floor, the windows are set within brick gables that have parapet extensions, while the roof is covered with old tiles laid in a pattern. There are two groups of diamond-shafted chimneys, and six gables on the first floor, each adorned with a three-light casement window. The two central gables are connected by a brick pediment that sits on a curved brick cornice above a central panel. Notably, the left-hand window has a stone sundial positioned above it.

The ground floor features six taller casement windows, all fitted with early 19th-century hexagonal paned lights. The central entrance door is two-panelled with a moulded frame and is topped with a flat hood supported by cut brackets. The return ends of the building are double gabled and include central chimney stacks.