1-2 Alice Park

A pair of park keepers' houses built between 1937 and 1940, designed by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. The houses are constructed of limestone ashlar with timber casement windows and doors, and a roof of plain clay tiles. They have rectangular plans, with entrances at each end and a central party wall incorporating a stack.

The south facade is symmetrical with four bays. It features tall, two-light casement windows with ten panes on the ground floor and six panes above, all with timber shutters. A broad string course runs up to the first-floor window sills, incorporating stone reliefs depicting a fish (“Neither Fish”), a dressed ham (“Flesh”), a turkey (“Fowl”), and a kipper (“Nor Good Red Herring”). The eaves have a deep soffit with simple dentil brackets. The rear elevation is simpler, with doors to enclosed gardens and casement windows. The gabled ends have sprocketted eaves; the west gable of No. 1 has a flat-pedimented door case with a carved Moderne relief of flowers, while No. 2’s east gable has a plain door case.

The interior was not inspected.

Nos. 1 and 2 Alice Park are of special architectural interest for their innovative blend of architectural styles. This is expressed in the vernacular treatment of the roof and windows, the classical detailing of the elevations, eaves, and door cases, and the Moderne carved decoration. The houses remain substantially complete and form the architectural centrepiece of the surrounding park, also designed by Jellicoe. The park represents a rare example of a private philanthropic foundation for public recreational facilities constructed between the wars. Few park buildings from the first half of the 20th century possess such architectural quality and innovation.