Elliott House

Elliott House, also known as the Railway Convalescent Home, is a convalescent home that has been converted into sheltered accommodation. The foundation stone was laid on 12 June 1899, and the building was completed in 1901, with an extension in a matching style added in 1907, which was opened by Princess Louise. The architect was A Saxon Snell, and it was built by the philanthropist and social reformer J Passmore Edwards specifically for railwaymen. The building showcases an eclectic Arts and Crafts style and is constructed from local red brick, Bath stone render, and tile hanging, topped with tiled roofs and tall brick chimneystacks.

Elliott House is an asymmetrical structure with two storeys and attics, featuring eight windows and three projecting gables. A prominent feature is the octagonal five-storey tower, which has continuous glazing on the fourth floor and casement windows below. Other windows throughout the building include double or triple casements as well as mullioned and transomed casements. The doorcase beneath the tower has a cambered head with an elaborate keystone, pilasters, and a stained glass door. A wood and glazed verandah connects this door to the central projecting gable. There is also a later doorcase in a projecting wing, which features a curved open pediment, keystone, and giant brackets.

The rear elevation includes three projecting gables, a mid-20th century red brick one-storey rotunda, and a small flat-roofed extension added in the late 20th century. Inside, the building contains two well-designed staircases with turned balusters, one featuring scrolled tread ends. The front hall has a fireplace with a Gibbs surround, while the sitting room features a fireplace with panels, reeded pilasters, strapwork paterae, and a matching mirror surround. The library includes fitted bookcases and a wooden fireplace with carved brackets. Originally, Elliott House was built as a pair of adjoining convalescent homes, but the Friendly Societies convalescent home was demolished around 1985.