74 And 76, Octagon Road

Nos. 74 and 76 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 and has four bays, with the two central bays containing casement windows. The outer bays have round-headed entrance arches that conceal casement windows and board doors. Whiteley Village, where these almshouses are located, was established by William Whiteley of Whiteley's stores to provide for thrifty elderly individuals and was designed on an octagonal plan by Frank Atkinson, incorporating prominent architects of the time.