37 And 39, Church Street

The buildings at 37 and 39 Church Street date to the late 18th century. They are constructed of yellow stock brick and form a notable group with numbers 5 to 13 (odd) and Rydal House, Horse Fair. The central portion of the building features a slight three-bay projection topped with a pediment. A moulded wooden cornice runs over the pediment and across it, without a cyma molding. There are five square sash windows on the second floor, five windows on the first floor (the outer four windows being wider, with multiple panes), and two windows on the ground floor within the central projection. A six-panel door is located on the left-hand side. The central projection is flanked by a three-light window on each side, with divisions of panelled pilasters ornamented with roundels in the necking and delicate dentilled and moulded cornices. Each window is set within a segmental arched recess. The door is contained within a moulded frame with a dentilled head rail, a rectangular fanlight decorated with double ovals, supporting scrolls, delicate wreaths, and small cast lead flowers, set in a panelled reveal with an architrave surround. A portico with columns and end pilasters, a moulded frieze, a fine dentilled cornice, and a broken moulded rectangular pediment with a dentil cornice extends outward. A wide stone landing with three steps leading down to pavement runs across the front of the central projection. To the right, a two-story connection, made of matching brickwork and approximately the same height, leads to an early 19th century house (number 37) whose main façade faces Portersbridge Street. The connection features a heavy coved cornice, a moulded string at first floor level, a coved cornice, and a blocking course with a hipped slate roof. The front presents a symmetrical composition with a slight central recess, joined by a recessed section at the corner of Church Street and Portersbridge Street. There is one window to the left, and a remaining façade with windows on the first floor, each with architrave surrounds, pulvinated friezes, and small cornices. The ground floor features two arched windows in deep recesses with Ionic columns in antis carrying an entablature. The older building exhibits very good proportions.