8, Cleveland Place East

No. 8, Cleveland Place East is a building dating from 1845, and repaired and cleaned in 1995. It was originally a dispensary, and is now converted into flats. It was likely designed by HE Goodridge. The building is constructed of limestone ashlar, with a rubblestone gabled return on the right side, and has a slate roof with stacks to the left. The plan features a double-depth arrangement to the centre, and a single-depth range to the right.

The external elevation is three storeys and a basement, displaying a symmetrical five-window range. A parapet, cornice and stepped frieze are visible, with banded rustication to the ground floor. The central three ranges are stepped forward and feature "DISPENSARY" carved into the frieze, flanked by two full-height six/nine-pane sash windows within giant order Ionic columns in antis, set against a moulded panel with guttae. Above, a moulded architrave and segmental pediment on consoles rises over a six/nine-pane sash window. Similar flanking windows are present on the first floor, with cornices below three/three-pane sash windows on the second floor, each with bracketed sills. The outer ranges have a moulded architrave and cornice on brackets above a six/nine-pane sash window to the first floor. A ground floor platband acts as a sill band and steps forward at the centre with a cornice on consoles, leading to a deeply set back door flanked by six/six-pane sash windows. A six-panel door is located to the far right.

The interior was not inspected for listing purposes, but originally included a centrally located, top-lit dispensing room, with consulting rooms to the rear and patient waiting rooms on either side. A physician's room was located on the left, and a surgeon’s room to the right, with carefully planned circulation routes.

The dispensary, not originally part of HE Goodridge's proposals for the Bathwick Estate, represents a monumental episode in that development. It opened to provide care for the “sick poor from any parish in or near Bath,” and is viewed as a characteristic example of early Victorian philanthropy, designed in Goodridge’s more restrained classical style. It was originally noted that the affluent can best aid their less fortunate brethren by founding and supporting dispensaries.