96-101, WALTON STREET

This is a terrace of six cottages, believed to date from 1829, and is likely a speculative development. The cottages are constructed of chequer brick with slate roofs and brick stacks. An ashlar band runs above the basement, and a flush blue brick string course is visible at first-floor level.

The terrace is arranged in a terraced row. Each cottage has two storeys and a basement, with a single bay featuring 12-pane sashes with narrow glazing bars and colourwashed stone voussoir heads. The sashes at No. 101 have been renewed, but in a matching style. No. 96 has a slightly wider frontage and includes an additional first-floor sash. The doorways to the left of each cottage have narrow over-lights, and several retain their original flush-panelled doors – specifically Nos. 96, 97 and 99. The basement openings have been altered in the 20th century, with Nos. 98-101 featuring variously enlarged wells concealed behind low front walls.

The rear elevation is roughcast and colourwashed, with narrow two-storey service projections below the main eaves. The projection at No. 96 has been enlarged in the 20th century. Other rear elevations have small, later 20th-century flat-roofed extensions to the ground floor, but retain the original first-floor sashes.

Internally, No. 101 features a front parlour with a plaster ceiling cornice and an original wooden fireplace surround, featuring paterae and reeded detail. The grate has been altered. A later 19th-century arched cast iron grate is located in the rear room. Two original fireplaces upstairs have simple wooden surrounds and hob grates with lozenge panels. A narrow staircase is situated at the rear of the entrance passage, featuring a plank partition and a matchstick balustrade with turned newels to the landing. Stairs lead down to the front basement only. No. 99 is similar in layout, but with only one original hob grate upstairs, no rear grate, and a square arch opening up the ground floor rooms. No. 96 is said to retain wainscoting and fireplaces.

The terrace exemplifies the architectural development of north Oxford, and its distinctive diaper decoration to the front, found on a number of buildings of a similar date, contributes to its appeal. It remains largely unaltered and is valued for its architectural quality, distinctiveness, and significance as an early example of north Oxford growth.