Nos. 26 and 28 Newcomen Road

A pair of model cottages built in 1850-2. Designed by the architect Henry Roberts in Tudor style for the Tunbridge Wells Branch of 'The Society for Iimproving the Condition of the Labouring Classes'. Some C20 alterations and the rear extension to no. 28 are not of special interest.

MATERIALS: of red brick in Flemish bond with vitrified headers, sandstone dressings (now painted), and a slate roof with a central clustered red brick chimneystack.

PLAN: a symmetrical T-shaped plan of one storey and attics with projecting front gables. This plan by Roberts is reproduced on page 134 of James Stephen Curl's 'The Life and Works of Henry Roberts 1803-1876 Architect' showing a front living room, side lobby with staircase, rear scullery with copper, pantry, WC and fuel storage on the ground floor, and three bedrooms to each cottage above.

EXTERIOR: there are two central full-height gables with wooden barge-boards. No. 26 has a three-light ground floor casement window with hood moulding and a two-light casement above. No. 28 has a projecting C20 conservatory to the ground floor and a larger two-light casement with hood moulding above, probably the original ground floor window reused. The doorcases are set back and have hood mouldings. The side elevations also have gables with a casement window on each floor. The side elevation of no. 28 has been rendered. The rear elevation has a central gabled dormer. No. 28 has a penticed C20 rear extension.

*Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 ('the Act') it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

INTERIOR: not inspected.