70 And 72, Octagon Road

Nos. 70 and 72 on Octagon Road are a pair of almshouses built around 1912 by Sir Mervyn Macartney. They are constructed of red brick and feature a wide central projection with a coved cornice above plain tiled, swept, hipped roofs that are recessed over the wings. The building is single storey with four bays, with the two central bays containing casement windows. The outer two bays have round-headed entrance arches that conceal casement windows and boarded doors. Whiteley Village was established by William Whiteley for frugal elderly residents and was designed on an octagonal plan by Frank Atkinson, who employed prominent architects of the time.